Wayne Week — March 1, 2026

Wayne

WEEK MARCH 1, 2026

On Tuesday, Wayne County voters will get to decide who will be on the ballot in November — and whether or not to support a quarter-cent sales tax hike. p.5

SPORTS + REC The Rosewood High School wrestling team put on a show at the NCHSAA state championship meet. p.18

NEWS The FBI executed a search warrant on a Wayne County Sheriff's Office deputy's phone after two of his family members were arrested. p.14

2026 Primary Preview

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. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

CONTENTS 5 MARCH 1, 2026 Volume 3, Issue 32

NEWOLDNORTH .CO M

EDITORIAL EDITOR Ken Fine EDITOR Renee Carey SPORTS EDITOR Aviel Smolka DESIGN DIRECTOR Shan Stumpf PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Casey Mozingo NEWS INTERN Madeline Thomas

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Melissa Hamilton

PUBLISHER

New Old North Media LLC

CONTACTS EDITORS

kfine@newoldnorth.com rcarey@newoldnorth.com

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© 2026 NEW OLD NORTH MEDIA LLC 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.

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2026 Primary Preview

On Tuesday, Wayne County voters will decide who will appear on the ballot this November and whether or not to support a quarter-cent sales tax increase proposed by county leaders — a hike they say will allow millions of dollars a year to flow into the local school district's coffers.

Wayne County Sheriff

Sheriff Larry Pierce, Ricky Hooks, and Stevie Howell make their cases to voters.

10 District Attorney

Jeff Cannon and Mike Muskus both want the chance to replace District Attorney Matthew Delbridge, who chose against running for re-election.

13 Commissioner At-Large

Former Wayne County Board of Education member Jennifer Strickland and former Cooperative Extension Director Kevin Johnson want voters to put them on the Wayne County Board of Commissioners.

14 FBI investigating deputy

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has executed a search warrant on the phone of a Wayne County Sheriff's Office deputy who is related to two men who were recently arrested on drug trafficking charges.

18 Rosewood wrestlers win big

Members of both the Rosewood High School boys and girls wrestling teams brought state titles back to Wayne County — and Sports Editor Aviel Smolka was there to see it.

22 Public Notices

COVER DESIGN SHAN STUMPF newoldnorth.com

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{ our TAKE }

W

e don’t usually do much right before an election about telling people how we feel they should vote.

If we have done our job, and this year, we really think we have, you should already know whom we think would be the best person to sit in an office or to take up a spot on a General Election ballot — and more importantly, who shouldn’t.

So, when early voting rolls around, and the die has been cast, we give the candidates the chance to talk to you, to make their last pitches before you head to the polls.

We are not in the business of persuading at this point.

And if you have already done your research and made up your mind, then, well, we think that’s good, too.

Those standards are especially important to us during a primary.

Party faithful should make the decision.

After all, that person will be representing them moving into the General Election.

And you know better than anyone who represents your party’s vision — and if those values will be central to how they will govern or run an office.

Continued 0n page 6

newoldnorth.com

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2026 PRIMARY PREVIEW Continued from page 5

After all, after the primary, that’s when the battle really begins.

The final decision of who will sit in the seat — this time, at-large county commissioner, District Attorney, and Wayne County sheriff — will be made by the voters this November.

But this time, the decision in the primary matters — a lot.

The good news is that there are some exceptional choices on the ballot.

And as we share their final comments to you, we hope you will think not just about what each candidate has to offer on paper but whether they have what it takes to lead this community forward.

As we have said many times over the last few weeks — and months, really — the leaders you choose are critical to the future of this community.

We are at a crossroads — the kind that can set the course for success or failure — and we have seen over the last few years what can happen when you put the wrong people in the seat.

There really are no throw-away votes, and blind loyalty is a luxury we cannot afford.

Choices have to be made this time with a very specific set of criteria in mind.

And if there is a doubt, any doubt, about the candidate’s ability or questions about an incumbent’s leadership, well, there is a hard decision to make — the choice that is the right one for the community we all love.

It is an important responsibility.

So, we have talked to those who are seeking your vote.

We asked the questions we thought needed to be asked.

But you will have to decide if the answers they gave are sincere and meet the needs of the very important call that they will have to answer.

And it will take some gumption and some integrity, and a whole lot of honesty about where we need to be, to meet that challenge.

Bottom line: We cannot afford someone who is willing to play the game or to sit silent when important decisions and hard choices have to be made.

No posers.

None.

We cannot have another round of leadership that is focused on maneuvering for deals, backdoor power plays, and saying what the community wants to hear or not saying anything at all.

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So, we are sharing that thought — and the important responsibility every voter has when choosing with whom to entrust the decision-making for the county’s future.

Your vote matters.

Use it wisely.

But all that being said, there was something we could not let pass.

We felt we had to point out a discrepancy and to make sure you understand why it matters.

Two deputies, one who had been entrusted with the management of the Drug Unit, and the other running the office itself, faced serious charges and potential prison time.

One of them, by the way, is serving that time as you read this.

The accusations were serious and the testimony during the hearings — and when both men admitted to the crimes — was shocking.

If there is still a doubt, a feeling that just doesn't sit right, please cast that ballot carefully.

It matters. It just does.

It is the right thing to do.

In the pages that follow, you will see an interview with current Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce.

He has been your top lawman for 12 years — since the premature passing of then-Sheriff Carey Winders.

He was a Democrat back then, and switched parties so he could be appointed to the post after Winders’ death.

And that shouldn’t matter — and maybe it doesn’t — but it is an important factor to consider in a Republican primary.

But that is not why we felt the need to write this today.

It is what he said about what has transpired in the Sheriff ’s Office over the past few years that took us aback.

There has been a major scandal — one that shook the community — under Pierce’s watch.

And it raised questions — big ones — about the operation of the Sheriff ’s Office.

How did this happen?

Who knew what when?

In our view, the way to deal with that kind of a shock is humility and accountability.

It required an answer that reflected the leadership failures that allowed that kind of malfeasance to get that bad.

It called for an understanding that respect is earned, and is not maintained without dealing with the tough stuff head on.

We needed an answer that reflected that understanding, that acknowledged the trust was lost and the community was dealing with the embarrassment of having our county’s top law enforcement organization in state headlines.

We did not get it.

We got what we have gotten since the news first broke.

Pierce is still saying the violations did not occur on his watch, that he has since repaired the cracks in a department with policies he has reworked over the last 12 years.

We beg to differ.

Don’t believe us?

Google the indictment.

Follow the timeline.

Read the testimony on NewOldNorth.com See what the prosecutors said.

And also note that there have been several incidents over the last couple of months that have suggested that the accountability and responsibility message is not filtering down to the deputies — that there is a leadership vacuum inside the WCSO. That is not what we need — not now when the choices we will make are so pivotal.

Pierce might be a good man — one who has served his community and has been a responsible and generous businessowner.

He might be a faithful man and someone who deserves credit for the contributions he has made.

And he has not been charged with any crime.

But he is the boss.

And if you are a boss, you know the buck stops right there.

So, Pierce might have been the right man for the job after we lost Carey Winders.

But his answer to the question we asked him, well, that shows that he still doesn’t get it.

And that is exactly the question we want you to think about as you decide whom you want to lead this county’s law enforcement operations.

It is not just about a letter after a name — or a loyalty to a man many of us have known for decades.

It is about what is right for this community.

It is one of those hard decisions — the type we hate to make but know we must.

Wayne County has never shied away from tough moments.

And neither have its Republicans.

So, all we ask is that you think about that before you cast your ballot.

And if you do, and you decide that vote of confidence in Pierce has been earned, well, you will have made the choice you think is best.

But if there is a doubt, a feeling that just doesn’t sit right, please cast that ballot carefully.

It matters.

It just does. n

Wayne County Sheriff

H

e insists he still has work to do — from helping his office earn accreditation and refining policies and procedures to leading law enforcement officers as they attempt to intervene before young people choose a life of crime.

And for that reason — and because he loves his community — Sheriff Larry Pierce is asking voters to trust him one more time.

That is why the incumbent Republican who has served in the post for 12 years — since he was appointed after the sudden death of longtime Sheriff Carey Winders — decided to run for re-election.

His job, Pierce said, remains undone.

Chief among that work, the sheriff said, is seeking North Carolina accreditation for his department.

And that achievement, he added, takes a great deal of work and preparation — roughly three years to get the policies in place and to audit and to improve procedures to meet the scrutiny of the accreditation standard.

Pierce said he hopes to be ready for the final application within the next year.

Other initiatives matter to him, too — like seeking grants to fund programs targeting juvenile intervention and other efforts to prevent crime.

It is a vision he said he has had since he first put on a uniform.

Pierce was sworn in as a deputy in 1982, and ran for sheriff once, in 1994, as a Democrat — losing to Winders, who later appointed him as a special deputy.

When Winders passed in 2014, Pierce said he switched parties to be appointed to the post.

Over the years, he has seen criminal activity levels shift, adding that there are many dangers his deputies see — and face — as they do the work of keeping the county safe.

One area of particular concern is the safety of the community’s children, as during his career, Pierce said more and more young people seem to be facing degrading home lives, leaving them as easy targets for gangs and drugs.

“They don’t have a good, strong home base,” the sheriff said.

But that is not his only concern.

The county has also seen an increase in car

LARRY PIERCE

after pleading guilty to his involvement in break-ins and gang activity. a bid-rigging scheme that directed WCSO And more and more youths — some as contracts to Cox’s company, bypassing the young as 11 — are carrying guns. requirements for the bidding process.

All of that suggests, Pierce said, Pierce, though, that intervening told Wayne and creating Week he did not relationships with know about the young people malfeasance, and is critical. that he has taken But in order to steps to address lead effectively, the concerns that were sheriff knows that uncovered during the confidence the investigation, of the community including matters. mishandling of So, he addressed evidence including questions about the drugs and guns. management of his He said he was department — and in the process of recent headlines reviewing those that have thrust procedures and the Wayne County “changing people” Sheriff ’s Office into in the leadership the spotlight. team when the Pierce said those charges, which incidents stemmed involved incidents from carry-over that, according issues that started to the indictment under Winders’ timeline, all administration and unfolded under his that the violations watch, were levied manifested after he against Cox took over — that he and Worth. simply transferred And those some of Winders’ changes, he added, key lieutenants - Larry Pierce are ongoing. into positions of “You can’t authority, and that change it until you he has been, and is know it,” he said. actively working to, Pierce has also clean up some of the faced scrutiny over the last couple of months policies and procedures that were in place after hiring a deputy who was involved in an when he took over.

And when asked to speak specifically about animal abuse case in Wake County, and an incident involving the assault of a handcuffed the arrest and conviction of his former Drug inmate by a deputy at the Wayne County Unit chief and second-in-command, he said Jail — a confrontation that was reported some of the allegations made by the federal by four members of the Goldsboro Police government “had not been proven.”

Department who witnessed the incident.

But that former Drug Unit Chief, Mike But the sheriff said that he has been Cox, is currently serving a 74-month federal actively reviewing how business is conducted prison sentence for admitting to engaging in on both the enforcement side and at the crimes with known drug traffickers. detention center, which he characterized as a And Pierce’s then-second-in-command, very difficult job. former Maj. Chris Worth, also faced penalties

“I love Wayne

County. My thing is to be the best sheriff I can for all the people.”

Pierce said that while there have been challenges during his administration, that most of the men and women who serve in the Sheriff’s Office take on a tough job and do it with class and integrity.

He said the department has created new processes, also, for evaluating complaints and dealing with potential violations by deputies and Sheriff’s Office personnel.

And if there is a serious infraction, Pierce said, he has no problem referring a case to state or federal authorities.

“If it is a criminal matter, we call in the FBI,” he said.

Pierce said he knows that there are comments being made about the sheriff’s office and his administration, and they are not always easy to hear.

“We have made so many accomplishments over the last 12 years,” he said.

Among those achievements, he said, is the construction of the detention center, a project that he said former Sheriff Winders was not able to make happen when he served.

That project, which cleared up problems with available jail space, he added, saved the county money, preventing the need for prisoners to be dispatched out to rented space elsewhere.

And Pierce said the office also has been very diligent about reviewing policies and getting more and better equipment such as body cameras and updated weaponry for the deputies and attracting — and keeping — quality enforcement and detention personnel.

Pierce also stressed that he feels communication with the community — about the good and the bad — is important, but added that he will never join in on or refute commentary online.

“People put things out there (on social media) that just are not true,” he said.

The sheriff said he prefers a more direct approach.

“I don’t do much on social media,” he said.

“I don’t like to reply on social media. I like to meet face to face (or on the telephone).”

Because he believes that doing it that way allows him to live up to his goal — the same one he has had since he first took the job 12 years ago.

“I love Wayne County,” he said. “My thing is to be the best sheriff I can for al l the people.”n newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 7

Wayne County Sheriff

F

or Ricky Hooks, running for Wayne County sheriff is not about looking for something to do.

“I don’t need this job,” the retired state highway patrolman said. “I want this job.”

And not because he has political aspirations or wants or needs the attention either.

Hooks said the people of Wayne County deserve better from their Sheriff’s Office, and he knows he can provide the expertise and experience to achieve it.

He said he has seen firsthand how the organization has been run.

“I did not like what I saw,” he said. “They are broken from the inside.”

What’s missing?

Accountability, structure, and organizational consistency, Hooks said.

Without all three, it is no wonder that there have been leadership questions, a high-profile scandal involving high-ranking deputies, and doubts about trust and professionalism.

It is a lesson that Hooks learned through his work not just as he worked his way up the ranks of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, but later as he modeled for his troopers as their commander, a position that put him in charge of 14 counties and 270 personnel.

He knows what it takes to lead, and after retiring in 2021, is ready to apply those standards of accountability and professionalism again.

He understands just how big a responsibility it is.

And he and his family did not make the decision lightly.

Doing it right, he said, means committing to excellence.

“I want to be the people’s sheriff,” Hooks said.

And that means leading from the front.

“You are not just going to see me every four years,” he said. “I am going to be out and about.”

And in the office itself, Hooks said he will not only insist on a standard of excellence, but will enlist the help of his leadership team to set the example.

And when deputies and personnel know what is expected, he said they have the support and tools to succeed.

“You don’t have to be a micromanager,” Hooks said. “But you have to be engaged.

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RICKY HOOKS

And one key factor in crime prevention is I always knew what was going on. And if I starting young. didn’t, someone answered for that.”

Hooks spent years as a school resource Rules, procedures, and a clear direction officer in Rosewood, working with young contribute to building not only a place where people to help them understand how to stay deputies feel comfortable and protected, but also out of trouble and how to find paths away creates an organization that serves the people. from the pitfalls that could land them in And that means understanding the lay of the prison or worse. land, Hooks said.

“It is one of the His approach most gratifying as sheriff would be positions I have ever data driven. held,” he said. “I still Knowing have relationships with where the crimes former students and hit and what the their families today.” biggest concerns So, as sheriff, he are allows for would put a priority planning that on finding the right doesn’t just result personnel to take in arrests, but also on the SRO roles to in prevention. “mentor and to help And that shape the future includes knowing of children.” what areas of If even one of the community them can be saved need the most from making a attention and disastrous choice, where resources he said, the effort are best used. will be worth it.

Drugs, illegal And while guns in the wrong Hooks said he hands, and gang understands just activity are key how hard it is to be components in a law enforcement crime in Wayne officer, he added County — and that a high knowing that and expectation of making sure there professionalism is are special teams an absolute must. ready to address So, his message stopping criminals to his deputies before they strike will be to treat and keeping - Ricky Hooks their community neighborhoods safe — offenders and is part of the job. citizens — as they And along would want to be with that goes treated. other factors, But the expectations he has for the men Hooks said. and women who work with him will be the From addressing mental illness and same standards they can expect from him, physical disability to advanced training on Hooks said. crime prevention, Hooks said he wants to And that begins with being able to trust give his deputies the tools they need to serve that there is structure and organizational and protect efficiently and responsibly. consistency in their workplace.

“It is not just about enforcement,” he said.

“The core of the

agency is shattered.

It's time for a fresh restart.”

“Law enforcement officers have a difficult job,” he said. “They should have a stable work environment.”

Hooks said there are good people in the Sheriff’s Office whose mission really is service to their community.

“It is a calling,” he said. “People don’t get into law enforcement to get wealthy. It is a calling to serve people.”

And keeping personnel or attracting new ones — whether it is on the enforcement of the detention side — requires creating a workplace that meets their needs and that has clear expectations and roadmaps for success and training.

“You have to hold everyone accountable,” he said. “And if they see an agency where people are happy and know the rules, and where they are applied equally and fairly, they come and they stay.”

Hooks emphasized that the procedures and policies he learned while at the NCSHP — a strict structure that holds leadership and personnel to the highest standard — has taught him how to model success for those who work with him.

“I am the only candidate that has chosen law enforcement as my full-time job, and who worked my way through a structured rank process,” he said.

The expertise he would bring to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office comes from those experiences.

“It is not something you can read from a book,” Hooks said. “I understand what the men and women who carry a badge go through.”

So, for Hooks, it’s time for them, and the county, to get the kind of sheriff and sheriff’s office they deserve — one focused on keeping its community and its citizens safe.

It is a promise that he is committed to and a standard he says he will provide without exception and without excuse.

Accountability, he says, includes being there to answer questions when he can and to take responsibility for the department he has been entrusted with.

It is how, he said, you earn a community’s trust.

And that change, he said, is a must.

“The core of the agency is shattered,” Hooks said. “It is time for a fresh restart.

I am dedicated to bringing that level of professionalism to the office and to serve my community.” n

Wayne County Sheriff

S

tevie Howell is no stranger to hard work.

Now, as an independent insurance adjuster, he has to balance availability and responsibilities with being there for his family.

So, that means his days start early and often stretch late into the evening.

“I have always had a lot of energy,” he said.

It is not an easy balance, he says, but is one that has created a work ethic that has allowed him to find the resources and the umph to seek another important role, Wayne County sheriff.

Howell is no stranger to law enforcement — or to community service.

In fact, before he got into insurance adjusting, he spent 12 years as a road deputy for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office under the direction of the late Sheriff Carey Winders.

And he learned some things — important stuff — he thinks will help him lead a department that will be able to keep his community safer and bring back some of the standards and structure that he says made those days as a deputy so special.

You see, Howell thinks that not enough attention is being paid to the people who are actually out in the county doing the calls and handling the tasks on the road.

While those in leadership positions or who are tasked with special duties like drug or gang enforcement have critical contributions to share in stopping criminal activity, Howell said those men and women on the road who have direct contact with the community notice things — and can provide important insights into not only enforcement, but prevention.

But that’s not why he decided to run for the Republican nomination for Wayne County sheriff.

That happened more than a few years back.

After he heard of the problems in the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, Howell heard a rumor that incumbent Sheriff Larry Pierce was not going to run again.

So, he sent out some feelers — asking people he knew in the community how they would feel about him running for the job.

The reaction, he said, was encouraging.

But when he heard Pierce was running, he thought he might wait a bit.

Then, he heard about another candidate, Ricky Hooks, getting into the race and he checked again.

The reaction was still positive, so he decided to run.

STEVIE HOWELL

And what he tells the people he meets at Howell is financing his own campaign — festivals, pig roasts, and around the community, and despite rumors to the contrary, he says is that he wants to be the kind of sheriff that he is not connected to Pierce or financed by treats people with respect and who stands up him as a foil to swing the race. for the men and women who serve with him.

Howell said the initial deposits in his account “You treat everyone the way you would came through cashier’s checks, a way to transfer want to be treated,” he said. “That is how we money quickly into his campaign account. did it.”

He said he has Howell said his received some time as a deputy money from was a job he loved other sources, — and, he added, signed checks, the men and but most of the women he worked funds he is using with loved it, too. to mount his “We had pride campaign came in what we did and from his own very little money,” he account. said. “We were there And he also for each other.” denies that he That’s not and Pierce are what he sees when neighbors at a lake he looks at the property, saying current sheriff’s the property in administration. question is owned “A lot of that by his brother, has been lost over and that his own the years,” he said. land is simply an He cites a lack undeveloped plot. of clear rules that “I did not know put constraints on the sheriff or that those who have to he lived there do those hard jobs until a little while and no confidence ago,” Howell said. that if there is a It is important mistake that there to Howell for the will be someone to community to stand by them. know that this is no Deputies, he political scheme. says, hesitate He just wants because they are to offer some worried they will expertise and - Stevie Howell lose their jobs and insight he thinks that management would make the will not stand by sheriff’s office them. better serve his And that makes community. everyone less safe, Howell said.

But he admits that holding down a fullIt is, in his view, why so many law time job and running for office is stressful. enforcement personnel move on.

The days are long and he said he tries to That’s not what it was like when he was a spend as much time as he can meeting and deputy, Howell said. talking to members of the community he “We were glad to be there,” he said. hopes to serve.

“There was never a time when we did not feel “I have never run for office,” he said.

“You treat

everyone the way you would want to be treated.”

like (the sheriff had our backs).”

Howell said an efficient Sheriff’s Office has to take into consideration that deputies will make mistakes, but also that complaints that come in are not always true pictures of what occurs.

Going after those who violate their oaths — through serious violations like those that have been recently reported — is critical to keeping a department honest, Howell said.

But knowing when to back a deputy is just as important.

Howell said the best kind of organization — and the one he would lead if he is chosen to run for the seat — will be one that listens to the men and women with the badges and the community they serve.

Knowing where the hot spots are for drugs and other criminal activity allows resources to be used more efficiently, and training officers on what to look for makes enforcement more efficient, Howell said.

And when a department is not functioning properly, well that hurts not only the safety of the community, but taxpayers’ pocketbooks as well.

“Bad management gets expensive,” Howell said.

So, he said he will strike a balance of fiscal responsibility while advocating for the resources he needs to create an efficient and effective organization.

Accountability and transparency — communicating with the community, during good times and bad, and answering questions and being accessible — are how trust is built, Howell said.

And those are qualities he said would be keystones of his operation as county sheriff.

Add in training opportunities and working with young people through school resource officers and other outreach programs, and you have a department that is focused on preventing the crime that has claimed too many innocent lives over the years.

“People need to realize that keeping kids off drugs is much easier than getting them off drugs,” Howell said.

Addressing issues like gun violence and other criminal activity is how to create a plan to make the community safer.

It is a goal that Howell says he knows will take a lot of time and energy, and hard work.

But it is a challenge, he said, he is more than ready to accept.

“I want to serve my community,” he said. n newoldnorth.com

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Wayne County D.A.

J

JEFF CANNON

“My Christian faith drives me,” he said. “I eff Cannon has always known what he try to do the right thing by everyone.” wanted to be when he grew up.

For Cannon, it is not just about holding And that job centered on the law. someone accountable when a crime is “I just knew it was what I was committed. It is about holding the right supposed to do,” he said. “Working with person accountable and victims is what I remembering the effect wanted to do.” prolonged trials can have And now, at 43, as he on families and victims. seeks the Republican Sometimes, he doesn’t nomination to run have the perfect answer for District Attorney, for a victim. he looks back at a law The public trial they seek career that has been might not be the best choice. spent seeking justice So, Cannon prioritizes for victims and their open communication with families. victims and families as they After law school, navigate the justice system.

Cannon spent his And because he takes early career with his job so seriously, he the Department acknowledges the realities of of Insurance, a District Attorney’s Office investigating criminal that spans three counties cases. and deals in thousands of And getting to the cases each year. truth and holding Not every case will end those who sought to up in front of a jury. defraud accountable In fact, about 97 meant attention to percent end in some detail, organization, sort of plea. and being diligent Many factors — the about getting answers. strength of the case, It was through - Jeff Cannon stress on the victim, that work that he met evidence, not to mention current District Attorney other mechanics like the search and arrest — Matthew Delbridge, who would later call him are part of the decision process. when there was an opening in his office.

In the end, it is about justice, and fighting Cannon took the job and was assigned the task of cleaning up the caseload in Lenoir County, for the people he has dedicated his career to serving. which had become hopelessly backlogged.

Cannon said there will be times when he Cannon cleared nearly 2,600 cases — cannot comment on a case, or explain why maintaining offices in both Wayne and a decision was made to prosecute or not to Lenoir counties. prosecute, but he feels openness and being It was not an easy task, he said, but an present and accountable to the people who important one. elected him are key to building trust and Criminal cases, he added, are not like fine confidence in the DA’s office. wine. They do not get better the longer they wait.

“I lead from the front,” he said.

And through his years of working with And he knows that the job he is taking on victims and their families, Cannon knows just will be 24/7, and his family — including his how important it is to them to get justice. wife, Jessi, and his son — understand the “When you meet with a victim and you responsibilities and support his quest to take talk to them, you can see how much they are on the new challenge. going through,” he said. “You want to do all And they know he is in it for the long haul. you can for them.”

“This is not a steppingstone for me,” And helping those who are left behind or Cannon said. “I plan on being here in this those who have been wronged find peace is a district until I retire.” n calling, Cannon said.

“This is not a

steppingstone for me.

I plan on being here in this district until I retire.”

MT. OLIVE . KINSTON . MOREHEAD CITY . WENDELL . MEBANE 701 Patetown Road 10

l 919-734-4071 l

. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

goldsborobuilderssupply.com

Wayne County D.A.

A

MIKE MUSKUS

“I don’t want to put a sloppy case in front fter serving for more than 25 of a jury,” he said. years as a prosecutor, Mike He knows that being district attorney Muskus has seen it all. requires setting an example — and he is He started by handling domestic more than ready for that role. violence cases, and saw firsthand the horror the “I have always been a victims go through not leader,” he said. only from the attack itself, There will be tough but from the aftermath. decisions to make, “I have seen what Muskus said, times when folks will do to each the best move is not to go other in a family to trial, but to work out a setting,” he said. plea agreement.

It made an impression Not every case is suited on him about victims, for a jury and not every about justice, and why victim is best served by a the job he was doing was court appearance, he said. so important.

But knowing when It is an awareness to go full bore and when and a responsibility to go an alternative he has taken with route, that is how an office him through other that covers three counties assignments and years and has an enormous of courtroom work. caseload can make sure And now, he is justice is swift and fair. taking the next step — It is a responsibility that to serve the residents Muskus takes very seriously. of Wayne, Lenoir, and It goes back to Greene counties as remembering the victims, their district attorney. and doing what is best for The first step, he them and their families. said, is earning a place So, Muskus says on the ballot.

- Mike Muskus he will be open to Muskus comes communication with by his prosecutorial those who elected him and will speak interest honestly. as much as he can, when he can, about His father, Eugene’s, work in the field decisions, about justice, and about the work is what inspired his son to follow in his he and his fellow attorneys are doing to make footsteps, even assisting him during breaks sure Wayne, Lenoir and Greene residents are from college and law school. served with integrity and responsibility.

And those experiences taught Muskus that “People need to know that the system is there is more to being a successful prosecutor working for them,” he said. than just a great courtroom presence.

But getting a conviction is not the only The case has to be there, too. goal, Muskus added. Justice is about making So, over the years, he has worked with law sure that the person charged with the crime enforcement officers, colleagues, and others is the one who did the crime. to hone his and their craft — to make sure the “You are dealing with a person’s freedom,” pieces are in place to achieve the justice he says he said. “You have to get it right.” crime victims and their families deserve.

So, while he and his wife, Meredith, and It is a standard that he says is critical, and his family, know the job will not be easy, it is a one that he will insist on if he is chosen to commitment they are willing to make to do just that. serve as district attorney.

And he is certain voters will not be “We have great law enforcement officers, disappointed should they give him the chance. first responders, and fire investigators,” he “If the people of Wayne, Lenior and said. ‘We have to be on the same page.”

And getting the procedures and policies in Greene counties hire me, they will not be disappointed,” he said. n place allows for that justice victims deserve.

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WAYNE COUNTY COMMISSIONER AT-LARGE

JENNIFER STRICKLAND

J

That’s how Wayne County becomes ennifer Strickland is not one to go a beacon for new investment and not an along to get along. afterthought, she said.

As a former member of the Property taxes are one of the areas Wayne County Board of Education, Strickland says needs the most attention, she has done battle on everything from adding that unreasonable rates hurt distance learning and standards for school Wayne County seniors and those who performance, to budgeting with taxpayers are trying to manage family and facilities needs budgets. in mind.

“It is just not sustainable,” She is not afraid to she said. speak up — and now, she But care must be taken, has set her sights on a Strickland said, not to seat on the Wayne County endanger the low-wealth Board of Commissioners. funding that the county It is not a new goal, depends on.

Strickland said.

“We want to grow at a She always intended steady rate,” she said. “But to run for a seat on the we will need some help from commission, but held the state, maybe raising the back out of respect for “Service to my low-wealth funding limit.” incumbents Wayne Aycock It is the kind of conundrum and Barbara Aycock. community has the county will face as it But when Wayne Aycock always been a continues to grow. passed last year, she But finding the solution decided it was time to priority for me.” will take more than the usual move forward.

- Jennifer Strickland empty words and “made-to“Service to my be-broken” promises. community has always And the first place to start been a priority for me,” is the county budget.

Strickland said.

“We need to look at where we are And she has ideas — lots of them — for wasting money across the county,” she moving Wayne County forward. said. “We need full transparency and the She said the county has potential that has ability to communicate without getting not been realized — and challenges that will angry. It is not personal. It is about what is need to be overcome to get there. best for the county.”

And one of her first goals is sending a Having served on the school board, she message about what a great place Wayne knows that there is a need for more money County is to live and to work. for quality teachers and programs and for The location allows those who want infrastructure repairs. to be in reasonable distance to Raleigh “Without a strong school district, the and the beach the chance to live in an county cannot attract the investment it affordable community with lots of smallneeds, but any spending has to be done town advantages. responsibly,” Strickland said. “We have to And that is an asset that Wayne County give our kids the education they need and needs to tout, Strickland said. the jobs that will keep them here.”

“We are a great place to live,” she said.

So, she is prepared to speak her mind on She said that marketing campaign should the board — to learn and to listen, and to fight target professionals — people who can come for what she sees as the best path forward. and start small businesses here like lawyers, That, in her view, is the way to get the accountants, and others, who are looking job done. for a place to begin their lives and to “I am absolutely strong enough to stand up raise families. to the pressures that come my way,” Strickland But to make the county even more attractive, said. “I will never be swayed for a vote. This property taxes have to be reasonable and is about doing what is best for the county, regulations that discourage small business nothing else.” n development have to be eliminated.

K

KEVIN JOHNSON

And that is dangerous for a community evin Johnson has been the man that doesn’t want to lose its farmland. who looked after Wayne County’s “We start losing what built our county,” he said. farming and agribusiness Johnson said it is a consideration that needs community and its interests as to be factored in as the county faces more part of the Cooperative Extension for years. economic development and residential growth.

But he wants those who are considering He wants to see the houses and the him as a candidate for the at-large seat on the businesses, just not at the Wayne County Board of expense of the open land in Commissioners to know Wayne County. that those years of work And that starts with locating in agriculture have given development closer to Wayne him insights into county County’s urban areas and keeping government and the property tax rates reasonable. business world as well.

So, for him, protecting He also has served Seymour Johnson and the for many years with the farmland/agribusiness Wayne County Chamber community — smart growth, of Commerce and taken he calls it — go hand in hand. part in the Military “These two industries drive Affairs Commission and I want to make our county,” he said. “If we other community efforts addressing the issues sure Wayne County work at doing development and recruiting new industries of small businesses and is a good place around Goldsboro where we economic development. already have sewer capability, And as a member of to raise kids. you can protect your farmland the Sunrise Kiwanis Club, and get the jobs that we need.”

Johnson has gotten to know - Kevin Johnson Education is also a priority. not only his neighbors, but He knows that supporting the those who step up when county schools as well as Wayne they are needed.

Community College is critical to the future.

It has given him perspective.

And from affordable education options And now, Johnson has a new mission — to to workforce training programs, WCC use that experience, those insights, and the is a critical component that needs to be lessons he has learned over the years to be supported and developed. part of planning his county’s future.

“We have a gem there,” he said.

“I care about my county,” he said. “I want But it was working with the Chamber’s to make sure Wayne County is a good place Junior Chamber Board, seeing the to raise kids.” possibilities for young people in Wayne Now, that goal is even more important to County, that presented another reason he him, as he and his wife are expecting their first decided to get more involved. grandchild.

He wants to see the potential of getting It changes the perspective – and the those young people to come back or to stay mission — Johnson said. home because they have the chance to build He sees the changes in agribusiness and lives and families here come to fruition. the challenges farmers face.

“I want to be part of the solutions and And he knows that their interests and the visions for the future,” Johnson said. $1.5 billion in investment they represent — Wayne County is a special place, he added, which rivals that of the $1.2 billion generated with the potential to become even stronger

by Seymour Johnson Air Force Base — are and economically successful. critical parts of the county’s future.

The key will be remembering not only Most farmers, he said, do not farm fullwhere we came from, but planning carefully time, and they do not work their own land. for where we are going, Johnson said.

So, higher property taxes, massive “People care,” he said. “They want to see development, and the pains that go along their neighbors succeed and they are there with growth are making it harder and harder for them if they need them.” n to resist the temptation to sell.

“

”

newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 13

NE WS +VIEWS

FBI investigating Wayne County deputy

Federal agents requested “to dump” the cellular phone of the lawman — a man who was “immediately” placed on administrative leave — after it was discovered that he is related to two men who were recently arrested by the State Bureau of Investigation for allegedly trafficking cocaine.

BY KEN FINE

T

he Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant for the contents of a Wayne County Sheriff ’s Office deputy’s cellular phone after two members of the local lawman’s family were arrested by the State Bureau of Investigation on drug trafficking charges.

But while he confirmed that the FBI “requested to dump the deputy’s phone to determine if there was any information pertinent to their case,” Sheriff Larry Pierce told Wayne Week the WCSO is “not under investigation.”

And he added that the deputy was put on administrative leave “immediately.”

“Out of abundance of caution, I immediately placed the deputy on administrative leave until the inquiry has been completed,” Pierce said.

The SBI case came to the fore in late January when Christian Daniel Hernandez-Castaneda and Gonzalo Castaneda-Orozco were charged with trafficking in cocaine and conspiring to traffic in cocaine after, according to an arrest warrant obtained by Wayne Week, the men “conspired” to sell “200 grams or more” of cocaine to an undercover law enforcement agent.

And according to a state law enforcement official who requested anonymity in order to discuss details of the investigation, the WCSO deputy currently on leave is CastanedaOrozco’s brother.

But that relationship — and the deputy’s more distant relationship to HernandezCastaneda — is not the only connection between the case and the Sheriff’s Office.

In fact, the last time the FBI and the WCSO crossed paths, when former Drug Unit Chief Michael Cox and Maj. Christopher Worth were indicted in 2023 on federal drug trafficking and bid-rigging charges — both men ultimately pleaded guilty to those charges and Cox remains in federal prison as a result — Hernandez-Castaneda, without initially knowing it, appeared in the indictment.

The following is how: On May 18, 2017, Cox texted, to a Goldsboro drug trafficker, a photograph of a man referred to as the “Peele Road Drug Dealer” which was obtained from CJ Leads, a secure database for use solely by law enforcement.

Less than a month later, Cox sent the man another text, the government claimed — a message that included a “pin drop” providing the “exact location” of what Cox allegedly

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. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

Christian Hernandez-Castaneda stated was “the man’s house.”

The drug trafficker responded that he was “going to pay em visit,” and, the following day, he allegedly texted Cox again to tell him he “went out there n scoped it out.”

Ten days later, a home invasion unfolded at the house on Peele Road that resulted in a Wayne County teenager and his sister left for dead in the trunk of a car.

That crime, according to federal prosectors, was orchestrated by Cox. And when one of the victims — who was, at the time of the home invasion, 14 years old — saw a screenshot of a September 2023 Wayne Week article six years later that covered one of Cox’s pre-trial hearings, he realized that the July 2017 home invasion prosecutors were talking about was the same one that resulted in him and his sister nearly being killed.

That young man was Christian HernandezCastaneda.

Back then, before Cox pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 74 months in federal prison, he spoke to Wayne Week about the incident and its aftermath.

PHOTO BY CASEY MOZINGO

“I wish this would just go away — all this pain — but now, I can’t avoid it, you know? Before, not knowing who did it, in a weird way, it made it easier. Like, maybe it was random or something and they had the wrong house,” he said. “But now, every time I look at (a WCSO deputy), it’s like, ‘One of you did this to me and my family. I was just a little kid. My sister was only 19. How could you do this?’ I feel like I have to look over my shoulder everywhere I go.”

To understand what Christian said had been haunting him since that home invasion on Peele Road, he painted a picture of what happened that night.

He was playing video games in his living room while his sister was cooking a meal in the kitchen.

He had a headset on.

But then he started feeling “vibrations.”

“You know how in older houses you can feel the vibrations when people are walking?”

Christian said. “Well, it felt like it was more than one person. Then, it felt like somebody was running through the house.”

Worried about his sister, he took off his

headphones and jumped out of his chair.

“That’s when I heard my sister screaming,” he said.

Christian started running toward the hallway, but froze when one of the two men who was “on my sister” pointed a gun at his chest.

“He said, ‘Freeze. Don’t move,’” Christian said. “That’s when they took us in the kitchen and duct taped us.”

Their hands now bound behind their backs, the brother and sister were dragged to the living room.

At that point, a third intruder emerged.

“They were screaming, ‘Where’s the money at? Where’s the money at? Where’s the drugs?’” Christian said. “We kept telling them we had no idea what they were talking about.”

But his sister had access to the family’s savings — not even $1,000 — and gave it to the men.

“They got mad,” Christian said. “They said, ‘That ain’t what we’re looking for.

Don’t play with us.’”

And then, “boom.”

“They pistol-whipped her,” Christian said.

“She’s screaming. She’s bleeding. Boom. They pistol-whipped her again.”

Moments later, they dragged her to the kitchen and slammed her head into an active burner on the stove — leaving a “massive” wound that exposed her skull.

“I thought she was gonna die, but I’m only 14 years old. I’m telling them, ‘We don’t know what’s going on,’” Christian said. “Bam. They pistol-whipped me.”

The violence would continue for nearly a half-hour.

“They kept hitting me with the gun and at one point, they hit me in the face and I had blood spraying out of my nose,” Christian said. “I was on my knees and when they hit me that last time, I fell. I tried to open my eyes, but I was real dizzy.”

That’s when the teenage boy blacked out — regaining consciousness only as two of the men dragged him outside and threw him into the trunk of a car before, not even a minute later, “stuffing” his sister next to him.

“They shut us in there, but I could hear them talking. One of the guys got mad because they didn’t find nothin’ and said, ‘(Expletive) this. They got to die,’” Christian said. “They were about to come kill me and my sister.”

Continued 0n page 16

n s o e C r v a R t i U v e O V Y o ice ! l l i t S Grounded in faith, service, Conservative ideals and family values, I will NEVER stop fighting for Wayne County!

Please vote

JENNIFER STRICKLAND in the March Primary so we can

win the County Commissioner At-Large battle, together, come November.

Continued on page 12

PAID FOR BY THE JENNIFER STRICKLAND COMMITTEE newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 15

Continued from page 14

KEVIN

JOHNSON COMMISSIONER AT-LARGE Kevin Johnson is a Wayne County conservative leader committed to protecting agriculture, supporting military families, and ensuring responsible use of taxpayer dollars through practical, results-driven leadership.

VOTER EARLY OR MARCH 3 FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE AT KEVINFORWAYNE.COM/VOTE

Luckily, another of the three talked him out of it, saying, ‘Don’t make it worse. Let’s go. Let’s just go.’”

And when they finally left, Christian pulled the emergency latch inside the trunk and he and his sister drove to their aunt’s house.

911 was called, but as they waited for first responders, the brother feared his sister would die before help arrived.

“There was blood everywhere. My sister, I think she was getting ready to bleed out.

Her whole head, it was just covered in blood,” Christian said. “And I was drenched in blood. The police, they kept asking us, ‘Did somebody die?

Did somebody die?’ They found so much blood.”

Christian had a severe concussion and a fractured jaw.

His sister, who was in much worse shape, was treated and, like her brother, ultimately recovered physically.

Shortly after, Christian dropped out of Eastern Wayne High School.

“My head was (expletive deleted) up, so I basically dropped out of school right after it happened,” he said. “It was so hard for me to pay attention. I would look at the board and the teacher is teaching and I am just zoning off thinking about that other stuff.”

And he said he lived in fear of going home — so much so that he “started roaming the streets.”

Not long after his story was published in Wayne Week, Christian and his attorney said he had been offered a cash settlement in exchange for his vow to not file a lawsuit against the WCSO or the county it operates in — one the young man ultimately accepted. (The county government has never disputed that a settlement was paid.)

It remains unclear whether federal investigators have made the connection between Hernandez-Castaneda and Cox — or whether the young man’s previous connection to the FBI’s 2023 investigation into the WCSO relates to his recent arrest or the bureau’s current probe of his relative.n

NO T ICE S CITY OF GOLDSBORO — ADVERTISEMENT TO BIDDERS BID: FB 2026-002, WTP FACILITY REPAIRS

Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute, bids will be received by the City of Goldsboro, North Carolina until 2:00 pm on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at City Hall, 200 North Center Street, PO Drawer A, Goldsboro, NC 27530. Bids shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope and clearly marked on the outside of the envelope, “Bid Documents: FB 2026002 WTP Facility Repairs Project.” Bids may be delivered by parcel service, U.S. Mail delivery or presented in person to the above address. It is fully the Bidders responsibility to ensure their bid arrives before the bid deadline.

Each proposal must be accompanied by a certified check, drawn on a bank or trust company authorized to do business in North Carolina, payable to the City of Goldsboro, in an

amount to at least equal five percent (5%) of the total amount of the bid, as a guarantee that a contract will be entered into and that a satisfactory performance bond will be executed. In lieu of a certified check, the bidder may submit a bid bond in the form prescribed by G. S. 143-129 as amended by Chapter 1104 of the Public Laws of 1951. Contractors are notified that Legislative Acts relating to licensing of contractors will be observed in receiving bids and awarding the contract.

A pre-bid conference shall be held at 2:00PM on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at the project location of 1201 Jordan Blvd, Goldsboro, NC 27530. Bid package instructions and specifications will be reviewed with attendees and a tour of the project area will be provided.

The Scope of Work will be on file in the office of the Finance Department, Goldsboro, North Carolina and on

PAID FOR BY KEVIN JOHNSON FOR WAYNE COUNTY Notices continued 0n page 22

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. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

the City of Goldsboro website http://www.goldsboronc. gov/finance/bid-listings/.

The right is reserved to reject any or all bids, to add or delete work, to waive informalities, and to award a contract which, in the opinion of the City, appears to be in its best interest. The right is reserved to hold any or all proposals for a period of sixty (60) days from the opening thereof.

The City of Goldsboro has an affirmative policy of fostering, promoting and conducting business with women and minority owned enterprises. Women and minority contractors are encouraged to participate in the pre-qualification process.

This the 1st day of March, 2026.

Catherine Gwynn Finance Director Published March 1, 2026

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PHOTOS BY AVIEL SMOLKA

SPORTS +REC

EAGLES 'LET IT FLY' Khiry Reese became a back-to-back state champion, but she was not the only Rosewood High School wrestler to win a title.

B Y AV I E L S M O L K A

K

hiry Reese is not used to being stressed before she wrestles.

So, she was in unfamiliar territory as she prepared to step onto the mat for a shot at a second consecutive North Carolina High School Athletic Association state title.

“I was really nervous,” she said. “I wrestled the same girl in the state finals like five times.

That kind of gave me a little bit of PTSD coming into this one because that was our third time wrestling, so we kind of learned each other’s style and stuff.”

But before the match began, she went over to her coaches.

They reminded her to trust herself.

And then, the Eagle “kind of let it fly.”

Less than 10 minutes later, she would become a back-to-back state champion.

“It feels great,” Khiry said after winning her second straight title. “I got loose and just wrestled.”

•

•

•

Khiry is no stranger to seeing her name in the storied Rosewood High School wrestling program’s history books.

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. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

Last year, she and Sophia Marshall became the school’s first females to win state wrestling championships.

Now, she stands alone as the first female wrestler to successfully defend a title.

And while last year’s feat added to the pressure she felt coming into the 202526 season, Khiry said the rewards this go-round have been that much sweeter because she has earned them as a member of Rosewood’s legendary program — and

because her father was a member of the Eagles’ first wrestling team.

“Wrestling makes me feel good, and I just love rolling around,” she said. “I didn’t even realize how much work I was putting in until I, like, started seeing results, but it just feels really great.”

•

•

•

Khiry was not the only Eagle who soared at the state meet.

SPORTS + REC SPONSORED BY :

In fact, not long before she took to the mat, Jameson McCoy won her first state title in thrilling fashion.

Down 11-1 late in the third round against Manteo’s Gabriella Aguirre Gomez, Jameson needed to pin her opponent to clinch a victory.

And when, suddenly, Aguirre Gomez made a wrong move, Jameson met the moment — flipping her over and pinning her to become a champion.

“I’m just really happy because I’ve come a really long way, and I’m blessed to be where I am,” Jameson said. “I don’t really think much during my matches, but I was just waiting because when I saw her start to get gassed, that’s when I knew I had my chance.”

Her emotions were on full display after she pinned her opponent.

First, she embraced her coaches — even before the referee could raise her hand in victory.

Then, after her win was made official, she jumped up onto the railing to hug her parents — a moment that was particularly special because wrestling has been a bonding

experience between her and her father, a man she does not see as much as she would like because of his military service.

“Wrestling has really strengthened our bond,” Jameson said. “And I’m glad to be able to walk in his and my uncles’ footsteps because they were also both wrestlers.”

And during the parade of champions, tears fell from her eyes.

“I was so happy about it,” Jameson said.

“It’s just a lot of hard work to get here.”

•

•

•

The young ladies, though, will have to share the spotlight with some of their male counterparts.

Aldinio Previl and Jaylin Darden joined Khiry and Jameson atop the podium.

Isaiah Mazura, Shane Mangroo, Nick Wade, and Josh Lemke were all state runners-up.

And both wrestling teams also won individual tournament runner-up trophies — capping off a banner year for a program that is no stranger to reaching the mountaintop.

Khiry said talent was part of Rosewood’s success, but it was the team’s chemistry that put the Eagles on a championship path.

It was the perfect blend, she said, of steady seniors and energetic underclassmen — a team without egos or singular stars.

They were, simply, just a united group with a shared dream.

That selfless spirit is why so many Eagles ended up standing on that podium.

And with all they had to endure to get there, every one of them felt like they had truly earned what they got.

“We’ve been working our butts off all season,” Khiry said. “We deserve it.” n

RHS PUTS STATE ON NOTICE Team victories show 'group effort' mantra was effective.

B Y AV I E L S M O L K A

R

osewood knew it had the talent.

Now, the state of North Carolina does, too.

The Eagles left no doubt at East Wilkes High School during the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2A Dual Team Playoffs, capturing the program’s first dual team state championship since 2018 — and its third overall.

But longtime RHS coach Hal Kilpatrick said he doesn’t measure success in titles.

At least, not entirely.

“It’s just the kids putting in the work,” he said. “They were so deserving.”

Kilpatrick isn’t wrong.

On the road to their championship, the Eagles proved doubters wrong match after match, with standout performances and unwavering team spirit.

They overcame the loss of head coach Josh Gordon before the start of the season.

They were forced — wrestlers and coaches — to rally around one other.

“It was a group effort,” Kilpatrick said.

That showed when, as the season went along, the Eagles’ practices improved each night.

Then, wins started to rack up, too.

And that gave Rosewood a fighting chance to do something special — one they capitalized on at East Wilkes Feb. 17.

The Eagles took down American Leadership Academy 41-32 in the Regional

Semifinal and then faced South Stanly in the Regional Championship match.

“South Stanley had two excellent kids at 165 and 175, and I didn’t know how we would get through that, and it turned out that we won one by decision and lost one of them by decision,” Kilpatrick said. “That 175 match was huge because even though we lost, it was only a decision, and I thought then that we had a chance.”

After that, Rosewood went on a tear, winning multiple matches in a row to come back and defeat South Stanley 36-30 to advance to the State Championship against the home team.

And from the first title match, they dominated the Cardinals en route to a decisive 56-15 win that shocked even their coach.

“I felt that we matched up better with East Wilkes than we did against South Stanley, but I had no idea that we’d go on a roll like we did,” Kilpatrick said. “We had those upper weight guys that were, you know, the seniors, the leaders, and they came in and they were working hard from Day One.” Continued 0n page 20 newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 19

Continued from page 19

Perhaps no wrestlers embodied that leadership more than seniors Jaylin Darden and Nick Wade.

Both longtime wrestlers at Rosewood, Darden was named the meet’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, while Wade carried on a family tradition, becoming one of three brothers who has suited up for the Eagles’ wrestling program.

Jaylin said he was honored to bring home top individual honors, but said it was the collective pride of celebrating not just his own victory, but also his team’s state title, that made the moment unforgettable.

“It was so electric,” he said. “Everybody was cheering for one another. I’m just glad that I got to be a part of this good run here at Rosewood. Yeah, it was an honor for the coaches to choose me to be the MVP, but it could have been anybody.”

For Nick, getting to join his older brother, Andrew, as a state champion is something that he’ll treasure forever.

And so will the ride back to Rosewood High School at 2 a.m. after winning the title.

Because as the team bus crossed back into Wayne County, it was met by fire trucks from the Rosewood Fire Department and Wayne County Sheriff ’s Office deputies — a legion that escorted the Eagles the rest of the way home.

“The community support to me, that actually tickled me. I thought that you probably don’t see this everywhere,” Coach Richard Nobers said. “I kind of felt like it meant a lot to the community because of how

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. Wayne WEEK . newoldnorth.com

Aldinio Previl much support they’ve given us. It was noticeable, and I appreciated it, and I know the kids appreciated it, too.”

And they will savor the moments they spent with Kilpatrick, as he will soon step down to start a new journey in Florida.

Nobers said the coach will be more than missed, but he — and his wrestlers — are happy they got to be a part of sending him out on top as a champion once again. n

newoldnorth.com

. Wayne WEEK . 21

NO T ICE S Notices continued from page 16

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF BARBARA JEAN CHANCE

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Barbara Jean Chance, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 8th day of May, 2026, 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 8th day of February, 2026.

Mark J. Hale, Jr., Administrator of the Estate of Barbara Jean Chance Baddour, Parker, Hine & Hale, P.C. Attorneys for Estate P.O. Box 916 Goldsboro, NC 27533-0916 (919) 735-7275 Published February 8, 2026, February 15, 2026, February 22, 2026, and March 1, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF EUGENE MILLER HEAD

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Eugene Miller Head, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 15th day of May, 2026, 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 February, 2026.

Kimberly Head Glass, Executor of the Estate of Eugene Miller Head 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 February 15, 2026, February 22, 2026, March 1, 2026, and March 8, 2026

WAYNE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS — CALL FOR UPSET BIDS

The Wayne County Board of Education has proposed to accept an offer of fifty one thousand three hundred and twenty seven dollars and fifty four cents ($51,327.54) to purchase approximately 4.3 acres at the address of 105 Pender St., Fremont, North Carolina, 27830, and its adjoining lot, all of which are identified by the following PINs: 3605358293, 3605357258, 3605356361, 3605356129, 3605356104, 3605355088, 3605356099, 3605358049 and 3605348909 and approximately 4.2 acres at the address of 101 North Pine St., Fremont, North Carolina, 27830, identified by the following PIN: 3605441986, totaling 8.3 acres and hereinafter referred to as the “property” as identified in the Board’s December 1, 2025 resolution.

The property is being sold “as is” and on condition that the property shall not be used for a competing educational institution, and the deed shall contain a restrictive covenant preventing the use or sale of the property for any such purposes.

Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160A-269, the Board will accept upset bids for the next ten days, ending at 5:00 PM on March 2, 2026.

Any upset bid must increase the previous $51,327.54 offer by at least ten percent (10%) of the first one thousand dollars and five percent (5%) of the remainder. The bidder must deposit with the Board five percent (5%) of their total bid.

Upset bids and the accompanying bid deposit certified check or money order must be delivered to the Wayne County Public Schools Finance Department.

This process shall continue until no further qualifying upset bids are received. Inquiries about the property may be directed to Dr. Gary Hales, WCPS Assistant Superintendent.

The Board reserves the right to reject any offers.

Dr. Gary Hales Assistant Superintendent for Support Services Wayne County Public Schools 919-731-5900 Published February 22, 2026, and March 1, 2026

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WAYNE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS —CALL FOR UPSET BIDS

The Wayne County Board of Education has proposed to accept an offer of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) to purchase approximately 0.46 acres at the address of 805 E. Holly St., Goldsboro, North Carolina, 27530, and identified by the following PIN: 3509375642, totaling 0.46 acres and hereinafter referred to as the “property” as identified in the Board’s February 3, 2025, resolution.

The property is being sold “as is” and on condition that the property shall not be used for a competing educational institution, and the deed shall contain a restrictive covenant preventing the use or sale of the property for any such purposes.

Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160A-269, the Board will accept upset bids for the next ten days, ending at 5:00 PM on February 27, 2026.

Any upset bid must increase the previous $2,000 offer by at least ten percent (10%) of the first one thousand dollars and five percent (5%) of the remainder. The bidder must deposit with the Board five percent (5%) of their total bid. Upset bids and the accompanying bid deposit check or money order must be delivered to the Wayne County Public Schools Finance Department.

This process shall continue until no further qualifying upset bids are received. Inquiries about the property may be directed to Dr. Gary Hales, WCPS Assistant Superintendent.

The Board reserves the right to reject any offers.

Dr. Gary Hales Assistant Superintendent for Support Services Wayne County Public Schools 919-731-5900 Published February 22, 2026, and March 1, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS— ESTATE OF JANE PRICE GARDNER NORTH CAROLINA WAYNE COUNTY THE UNDERSIGNED, Donna Jill Price, having duly qualified as Executor of the Estate of Jane Price Gardner, deceased, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to Donna Jill Price, Executor, at 103 Eagle Lane, Hampstead, NC 28443 on or before the 22nd day of May, 2026, said date being three {3) months from the date of first publication hereof, or this notice will be pleaded in bar to their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

DATED: February 22, 2026.

DONNA JILL PRICE EXECUTOR ESTATE OF JANE PRICE GARDNER W. CARROLL TURNER ATTORNEY FOR THE ESTATE POST OFFICE BOX 547 MOUNT OLIVE, NC 28365 Published February 22, 2026, March 1, 2026, March 8, 2026, and March 15, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against William Everett Wise, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 22nd day of May, 2026, 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 February, 2026.

Rena Gail Wise Johnson, Executor of the Estate of William Everett Wise 5417 U.S. Hwy 13 South Mount Olive, NC 28365 Published February 22, 2026, March 1, 2026, March 8, 2026, and March 15, 2026

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Albert Ray Jenkins, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 22nd day of May, 2026, 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 February, 2026.

Daniel Clay Jenkins, Administrator of the Estate of Albert Ray Jenkins 103 East Lockhaven Apt. G Goldsboro, NC 27534 Published February 22, 2026, March 1, 2026, March 8, 2026, and March 15, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Hilda Jean Smith, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 1st day of June, 2026, 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 1st day of March, 2026.

Walter Smith III, Executor of the Estate of Hilda Jean Smith 105 Raven Ridge Drive Goldsboro, NC 27530 Published March 1, 2026, March 8, 2026, March 15, 2026, and March 22, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Mabel Christine Frederick, a.k.a.

Mable Christine Frederick, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 1st day of June, 2026, 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 1st day of March, 2026.

Lori F. Collins, Executor of the Estate of Mabel Christine Frederick, a.k.a. Mable Christine Frederick, 787 3rd Street Ayden, NC 28513 Published March 1, 2026, March 8, 2026, March 15, 2026, and March 22, 2026

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Norman Elissimer Herring, Jr., deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 1st day of June, 2026, 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 1st day of March, 2026.

Melissa Herring Burchell, Co-Executor of the Estate of Norman Elissimer Herring, Jr. 1250 Governors Blvd Heath, TX 75126 Published March 1, 2026, March 8, 2026, March 15, 2026, and March 22, 2026

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JERICHO FA R M S

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