Wayne Week — Nov. 23, 2025

Wayne

WEEK NOVEMBER 23, 2025

It didn't end with the state championship they were chasing, but for a father and son — and a team they consider an extension of their family — the Charles B. Aycock soccer team's historic run to the Final Four created memories that will last a lifetime.

THEIR

GOLDEN SEASON

BY KEN FINE P. 14

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CONTENTS 4 About next week's paper NOVEMBER 23, 2025 Volume 3, Issue 16

NEWOLDNORTH .CO M

EDITORIAL EDITOR Ken Fine EDITOR Renee Carey DESIGN DIRECTOR Shan Stumpf PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Casey Mozingo

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Melissa Hamilton

PUBLISHER

New Old North Media LLC

CONTACTS EDITORS

kfine@newoldnorth.com rcarey@newoldnorth.com

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© 2025 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.

Typically, there is no Wayne Week produced the week of Thanksgiving, but this year, a smaller edition will be printed to give Photography Director Casey Mozingo an chance to document downtown Goldsboro's Lights Up event and showcase her work. The paper will not, however, be delivered on our regular schedule as we honor our tradition of giving our team some well-deserved time with their families.

5 State Auditor releases report

North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek held a press conference at the Wayne County Museum Wednesday to talk about hurricane recovery failures his team uncovered during an investigation into the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency.

6 Remembering Wayne Aycock

Wayne County lost another giant this week, as Commissioner Wayne Aycock — a man who served his community for decades as a volunteer firefighter and elected official passed away hours before the board he once chaired held its November 18 meeting.

9 Our take

Thanksgiving is a chance to count our many blessings. For members of the Wayne Week team, those blessings include all of you — and the change we have helped bring to our community together.

14 Cover Package

It didn't end with the state championship they were chasing, but for a father and son — and a team they consider an extension of their family — the Charles B. Aycock soccer team's historic run to the Final Four was "a dream."

20 Public Notices COVER PHOTO BY KEN FINE newoldnorth.com

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A MESSAGE ABOUT NEXT WEEK'S PAPER If you have been a Wayne Week reader for long enough, you already know what we’re about to tell you.

But for those who are newer to the paper, we thought it best to share how next week is going to go.

Typically, there is no edition produced the week of Thanksgiving.

It is our way of showing appreciation to members of our team for their relentless pursuit of top-notch journalism — to give them a chance to recharge their batteries with members of their families before they continue the work that all too often consumes their daily lives.

But this year, Photography Director Casey Mozingo wanted an opportunity to showcase her work from the upcoming Downtown Lights Up event — one of the most well-attended and highly anticipated community gatherings of the year.

And we also wanted to be able to honor our

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legal notice clients to give them the opportunity to handle the estates they are managing in as timely a manner as possible.

So, with that said, we decided a few weeks ago that we would, indeed, let the press roll this week.

Here is what we are going to do: Unless we come across breaking news that we feel cannot wait until the first week of December, the Nov. 30 edition of Wayne Week will include, almost exclusively, a photo essay from Lights Up and the legal notices set to run in the paper.

That, we feel, will allow more faces to grace our pages, while also preserving some significant holiday time off for our team.

But while the paper will be printed, it will not be delivered on our typical schedule.

And while we know that for most of you, this is not something you did not already anticipate,

we wanted to ensure that nobody thought we had forgotten them this upcoming weekend.

So, we hope that like us, you use this week to focus on the things in life that really matter — faith, family, service, and fellowship — as it can be easy in the world in which we live today to forget how truly blessed we are.

We look forward to getting “back to normal” the first week of December and, before too long, kicking off a new year with more of the coverage we believe is essential to our readers — from unwrapping who will file in the coming days for critical 2026 races to looking back on, and continuing coverage of, the issues we have brought to the fore over the last year.

And please remember how humbled we are to be this community’s newspaper — and that you, our readers and partners in this important journey, are among the many things we are thankful for.

NE WS +VIEWS

Boliek details disaster response failures

North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek held a press conference in Goldsboro because Wayne County citizens were among those he said were shortchanged by the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency.

BY KEN FINE

H

e decided to hold the press conference in Goldsboro because Wayne County families were among those affected by what his team of investigators characterized as a “logistical nightmare.”

But North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek told those who gathered at the Wayne County Museum Wednesday afternoon that his office did not scrutinize the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency to simply identify waste and inefficient use of taxpayer funds.

The purpose, he said, was to ensure victims of future natural disasters got the help they needed — the assistance they were assured, by their government, they would receive.

Instead, the NCOSA learned, through its evaluation of the NCORR Homeowner Recovery Program, that some of the more than $1 billion managed by the state was wasted, leaving many Eastern North Carolina residents waiting far too long to move on with their lives after Hurricanes Matthew and Florence.

“The unfortunate truth of this report is the response from North Carolina to Hurricanes Matthew and Florence was a disaster. When government decides to focus on administrative procedures ahead of boots on the ground, hurricane victims get hurt,” Boliek said. “North Carolina must implement a long-term, comprehensive plan that can be used for decades to come.”

State Rep. John Bell was supposed to be in attendance for the press conference but told Wayne Week he had a scheduling conflict and was, unfortunately, unable to attend.

He did, however, characterize NCORR as a “complete disaster” and emphasized that since he has been in Raleigh, his main concern has been “getting families back into their homes as quickly as possible” in the wake of Florence and Matthew — and, looking to the future, ensuring that victims of Hurricane Helene are not subjected to the same delays caused by the mismanagement of the funds entrusted to NCORR.

But State Sen. Buck Newton was on hand — and said that he was angry on behalf of the community he serves.

“We spent almost $75 million on temporary housing and that averages almost $230,000 per household. We could have built a house for (every one of those families),” he said. “It’s really infuriating to consider how poorly this was managed.”

The following reflects the findings from the NCOSA report — and recommendations for the future. They have not been edited:

F INDINGS Financial Commitments Exceeding Available Funds and Unreconciled Reporting Led to a $297 Million State Bailout: NCORR committed disaster recovery funds to projects in the order applications were ready to proceed, rather than through a comprehensive assessment of total disaster relatContinued on page 6

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Continued from page 5

ed need. This approach, combined with inconsistent reconciliation across financial and program management systems, meant NCORR did not know the full cost of recovery until after the application period closed.

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Poor Program Data Quality and Delays in Disaster Recovery Efforts Prolonged Hardship and Increased Costs: Incomplete and inconsistent program data within Salesforce, one of the three systems used to manage HRP, caused HRP to experience operational challenges and delays. NCORR spent $25.4 million on Salesforce, including costs related to ongoing consulting and technical support.

Despite the substantial funds committed to Salesforce, several issues impacting hurricane victims’ ability to get through the eligibility process persisted. Issues included blank fields, negative processing times, missing ‘Notice to Proceed’ dates, and instances of applications marked ‘Complete’ without corresponding end dates. These data shortcomings made backlog assessments and process tracking difficult. On average, eligibility determination for applicants took 140 days, and rebuilding efforts did not begin until nearly four years after NCORR made these determinations.

Insufficient Budget Controls and Monitoring Practices Led to Emergency Appropriations:

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NCORR failed to translate HUD Action Plans into practical, enforceable budgets and schedules for daily management of HRP. Without a structured financial roadmap or ongoing budget monitoring, NCORR operated reactively making spending decisions based on available funds rather than comprehensive needs or performance targets. The absence of regular reconciliation between planned budgets and actual expenditures, and the lack of proactive oversight, were significant factors in the $297 million shortfall that required emergency appropriations from the General Assembly to keep recovery efforts on track.

Inadequate Oversight of Vendors Led to Increased Costs:

Vendor involvement in HRP administration was significant, but oversight by NCORR was insufficient. Fugate noted that “Contractors are a great force multiplier, but you can’t farm out the governing.” He emphasized the importance of having established criteria for measuring success or determining program completion. However,

only one out of six program administration contracts included Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and those KPIs lacked defined performance thresholds. Many vendor contracts referenced potential metrics without requirements for performance monitoring or payment tied to results.

R ECOM M E NDATIONS Establish a SOLID Partnership for Disaster Recovery: The State of North Carolina’s Council of State — including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Labor, and State Controller — and the Department of Public Safety should come together to establish a Sustainable Outcomes for Long-Term Impact and Disaster Recovery (SOLID) Partnership. By formalizing this Partnership and including all members of the Council of State, North Carolina will build a resilient, coordinated, and accountable disaster recovery framework.

Implement Robust Budget and Financial Oversight:

• Integrate all financial and program management systems to create a unified, authoritative source of truth for decision-making and external reporting.

• Establish routine reconciliation protocols and align program outputs with financial controls from program inception through completion.

Strengthen Contract Management and Oversight:

• Codify KPI requirements in procurement policies for all disaster recovery contracts.

• Establish a dedicated vendor performance management office to monitor, evaluate, and report on contract compliance and outcomes.

• Mandate the use of contract monitoring plans with regular performance reviews and enforceable accountability measures.

Implement Comprehensive Data Governance Frameworks:

• Assign data owners and establish authoritative data fields for all critical program information.

• Develop and enforce validation rules and automated exception reporting mechanisms from the outset of each program to ensure ongoing data quality and integrity. n

newoldnorth.com

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IN MEMORI AM

Wayne County loses a true servant leader

Wayne Aycock gave to his community for decades — long before he was elected to the Board of Commissioners.

A

lot of people talk about aspiring to be servant leaders in their community.

They extol the virtues of volunteering, and they speak with admiration for those who are the silent, yet steady forces that work behind the scenes to make their city, village, township, or county a better place — without the need for accolades and photo ops.

That’s right.

They talk — a lot.

But most of them never actually do the work that qualifies them to earn the title, the honor, or the quiet influence that changes a community.

And then there is Wayne Aycock.

Most people know that he was a county commissioner for more than a decade and that he served in other capacities in connection with the Republican Party before that.

But what many people might have been unaware of is that he was a member of the Nahunta Volunteer Fire Department for not just a few years or even a few decades — but for 60 years.

Think about that.

That is the very definition of a servant leader.

And so is the fact that many of those who have met and spoken with Aycock likely did not even realize just how much he has given to this county and his community.

In other words, he never looked for a chance to boast.

For those who don’t know, being a volunteer firefighter is not a money-making opportunity.

In fact, many of those first responders that outlying communities in Wayne County rely on fund their own equipment, training, and take risks every day with no guarantee and no safety net.

If you have been to the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair, you have likely eaten a hot dog or hamburger that helped raise some of those funds that support these brave men — and some women — who risk their lives in service to their neighbors.

They are a special breed.

So, it is no surprise that when word spread about Aycock’s passing this week, the first quarter to be heard from was the legion of men and women who have been part of the first-responder community.

You see, Aycock was not just one of them.

He was also their champion — making sure that they had a voice in the decisions that would affect their existence and that when

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BY RENEE CAREY

there was a chance to get funds for items they needed, that he was their loudest and most insistent advocate.

They knew he respected them, and that he fought for them.

And that’s why their condolence messages all included not just respect, but gratitude.

Wayne Aycock was not just a volunteer firefighter and a commissioner.

He was also a man of deep faith, and a family man who knew what his priorities

should be and made sure that they stayed in that order.

He was also a man of conviction, who spoke his mind when he felt it necessary — unafraid to go against the tide if the need arose.

He was a strong man at a time when so many bent to the whims of progress and change because it was easier than standing firm for principles they believed in.

Not everyone agreed with everything he said, but Aycock aspired to say what was in his heart —

and to try to bring others along with him.

And chief among those values was the country he revered and the county he loved.

You see, Wayne Aycock served Wayne County for decades in any way he could — either from the commissioners’ bench or behind a firehose.

And even when his health started to fail, he still served to the best of his ability — making decisions that set the course for the future of the place he loved.

He was tough behind that commission seat — especially when he served as its chairman.

He stood for decorum and honest service, refusing to allow anyone to make a mockery of the commission or the county.

He did his job — and he did it with honor.

There is no greater legacy.

But if you got Aycock behind the scenes, when he wasn’t the chairman of the commission, you saw a softer side.

He was a man who lived his faith — in his work in the church and beyond.

But he was also a proud father and grandfather — and a doting husband, who was more than ready to talk about how proud he was of the family he considered it an honor to lead.

Yes, Wayne Aycock understood what so many people today do not seem to be able to grasp.

You can have all the money and power in the world.

You can be famous or infamous.

And you can be greeted with applause and accolades whenever you enter a room.

But none of that matters.

Not really.

It is the man you are when you are home, when no one is looking, that defines you.

And if you are a man who is known for his humility, his good works, his faithfulness, and his kindness, well then you have achieved something.

And if you are lucky enough to also be someone that a child or two looks at with respect and awe, and you have earned the title of “papa” or “grandpa,” well then you are absolutely the richest man in the room.

So, you will be missed commissioner, not for the power you wielded, but the example you set.

We — and of course, the Aycock family — will miss you more than you could ever know. n

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{ our TAKE }

THANKFUL. FOR YOU!

I

t is that time of year again.

In less than a week, we will all gather around a table and talk about how grateful we are for family, friends, and neighbors — and for the blessings we have counted.

And we will also talk about how fast time flies.

Because it really does.

It seems like yesterday that we decided to print the first edition of Wayne Week — and just a hop, skip, and jump from when New Old North launched with the promise of journalism with a whole new level of honesty and courage.

We will never forget the pins and needles feeling that came with starting a new venture and wondering whether or not we would, indeed, be able to make a difference.

We knew what could happen if we combined honest and fair analysis with responsible reporting.

We had seen its impact before.

And we knew the quality of the people in this community and the potential of our county.

So, we jumped in — headfirst.

We have tackled a lot since those days, as we all lived through the sea change of a pandemic

and its aftermath.

And we worked, alongside all of you, to rid our community of the graft, the bad management, and the ill-advised choices that had stunted our community’s possibilities.

And at the same time, we celebrated the good bones of a home that was raised on the principles of hard work, honesty, and respect.

We asked, and you answered, not only supporting our efforts, but stretching your own courage to speak up about what needed changing — and Continued on page 12

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who needed changing.

And today, only a few years later, we have indeed turned a corner as a community.

It has been, at times, rough, and all the challenges are not over by a long shot, but we are on our way.

Frankly, we cannot believe how far we have come — and how much work has already been done to make Wayne County a stronger community.

But we are also humbled by how much more there is still left to accomplish.

And we feel confident that not only do we have more of the right people in the right places, but that we have a new expectation of accountability — an absolute necessity in creating a strong and vibrant future for Wayne County.

In other words, we have accomplished much, all of us.

Now, all that is left is standing strong together as we move forward.

No more expecting and accepting less.

No more standing back and staying silent for fear of the threats of loud, and often disrespectful and intolerant, dissonant voices.

We can now set our standards with the same pride and conviction that our parents and grandparents did — and celebrate the values they taught us while protecting the community they entrusted to us.

It is a good place to be, a thankful place to be.

So, here we are at the time of year when all good things are counted and all past transgressions are set aside.

And we need this Thanksgiving, more so than ever.

This holiday has remained relatively untouched by the stench of commercialism.

Although we seem to move seamlessly from the hubbub of Halloween to the consumer onslaught of Christmas, there is still that little break, that time to stop, to slow down, and to remember just how lucky we really are.

And many of us all think about what really matters — and who really matters — in our lives.

And we need that so we can appreciate what we have and what we have lost.

Taking the time to share those memories and those moments around that table, that sets the stage for what’s to come.

It helps us to prepare as we enjoy the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season to remember the reason we celebrate it in the first place — and it helps us set our priorities as we scramble for the best gifts and the most memorable parties and gatherings.

Wayne County has always been good about that.

So, this week, we offer a preliminary reminder not only of how grateful we are to be a part of your lives — and to have been an agent of

change for the community we love and respect — but also for the courage of those who fought and sacrificed along with us.

We know we would not be here without you.

And we want you to know how much we appreciate your support.

Our promise is to continue to earn it every week.

We will have a special edition of Wayne Week next week — a bit of a deviation from our normal fare.

It gives us a chance to allow our staff to share the holiday with their families while still honoring our commitment to you.

So, enjoy the “photo essay” edition as you celebrate with your families and friends.

And know we are thankful for you and for this community that never ceases to amaze us with its integrity, its heart, and its unwavering faith in a better world.

But as we close out another grateful season, we feel a bit of a reminder is necessary.

We are all going through a time when political opinions and different viewpoints have become fodder for division and hatred.

Friends and families have divided over political differences and more than a few have done so acrimoniously.

But the truth is, there are always going to be ways in which we disagree, but there is also a common ground.

We used to be able to talk to one another, and to agree to disagree.

And differences of opinion did not have to end in bitterness and name-calling, or in the worst cases, violence.

We do not have to succumb to that low.

We just don’t.

So, as you enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday, please, remember “the way we were,” and reach out, open your heart, and try to listen.

The many families across this community who have lost a loved one this year will tell you that when the day comes that you experience that profound loss, when you can no longer reach out and mend a fence or share an “I love you,” you won’t be thinking about politics or who was wrong or right.

So, in our view, the best time to recenter your priorities and to open your heart is now.

Make this the season you open that door — even if it is only a crack.

It is certainly worth a try.

We hope you will give understanding, peace, and love another chance.

It really does matter — and it will make this community and this country stronger.

And on that note, we wish you joy this holiday season.

You — and this community — matter very much to all of us.

Happy Thanksgiving.

We look forward to sharing many more with all of you. n

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. Wayne WEEK . 13

THEIR GOLDEN SEASON It didn't end with the state championship they were chasing, but for a father and son — and a team they consider an extension of their family — the Charles B. Aycock soccer team's historic run to the Final Four created memories that will last a lifetime.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KEN FINE

14

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A

distraught teenage boy with tears streaming down his face makes his way, slowly, to the middle of the pitch inside Hardy Talton Stadium — stopping to rest his head on his coach’s chest.

Rich Huff knows all about the agony of defeat in pursuit of a championship.

Decades ago, long before he signed on to manage the Charles B. Aycock soccer team, he experienced the emotion as a player.

So, he put his hands on the top of the young man’s head before, a few moments later, urging him stand with that same head held high.

A few seconds pass and another player collapses into the coach’s arms — this one a senior who has just seen his high school career come to a devastating end after a dream season that had, until Tuesday, seen the Golden Falcons go undefeated and advance to the school’s first-ever Regional Championship game.

The two, briefly, embrace before the teenager moves on.

But Huff stands his ground.

He is waiting for one particular player — his star player — who, the moment the final horn sounded on a 2-1 loss to defending State Champion Western Alamance, ran off the pitch to find and hug his pastor.

And when, at last, their eyes meet, the coach moves from his spot to initiate what would be his longest embrace of the evening.

The young man puts his head on Huff ’s shoulder — trying to remain stoic while those around him are lost in tears.

He doesn’t break when he tries to back away and his leader pulls him back in.

But when Huff whispers something into his player’s ear, tears form in the young man’s eyes.

That moment was not about a condolence offering from a coach — a reminder to perhaps the best player in the history of Aycock’s program that he had more soccer left ahead of him after graduation this spring.

It was another chance for a father to reassure his son that he had made him proud.

T

he fact that Drew Huff was able to meet his father at midfield at the conclusion of Tuesday’s game was, in many ways, a testament to the young man Rich raised him to be.

Early in the contest, the father had to, literally, help carry Aycock’s striker off the field after he found himself on the receiving end of a tough foul that looked like it had sidelined one of the best players in the state for the remainder of the evening.

But when Drew, a few minutes later, hobbled to the sideline to sub back in, those who knew him were not surprised.

FAMILY PHOTO

In fact, a little more than 24 hours before the game began, he talked to Wayne Week about the fact that he had, particularly during the Golden Falcons’ playoff run, been targeted by opposing teams — forcing him to play “beat up.”

“That comes from my dad. My dad was the type of guy on the field where he doesn’t care. He gets hit, he gets back up, no matter what,” Drew said. “Stitches, bleeding, nose broken, he’s the guy who doesn’t know what a hospital is. So, I feel like as I’m getting older, I’m starting to realize that I need to become a man. Say something happens at my job that knocks me down. I can’t just sit there. I’ve got to get back up and keep going.”

That is the difference between the relationship he and other players have with their coach.

All of them are “family,” Rich said — with each young man feeling like a son with whom he shares the same level of honesty and trust.

But he knows that the lessons he feels he has been fortunate enough to teach Drew, through a lifetime of sharing a game they both love, will be ones the young man will carry with him off

the pitch for the rest of his life.

And the fact that his son has that perspective means more to Rich to than any championship.

“Seeing his sportsmanship and his maturity and watching the growth in his character has been a special thing to be a part of,” he said. “He’s a leader. He shows what it takes to be a leader. And at his age, it’s incredible to see and makes me just so proud.”

T

he day before the Regional Final, both Rich and Drew acknowledged that winning, once a team reaches the Final Four, can often come down to things players and coaches can’t control.

Every team remaining in the tournament is “really good,” Rich said.

And often times, the result comes down to a single whistle, an untimely injury, or a kick that misses its mark by inches.

So, both knew that Tuesday’s outcome was a possibility.

And Rich knew something else — that should Aycock lose, the young men he had helped lead to four consecutive conference championships and the greatest season in their school’s history, would play that loss over and over again in their heads, just as

he has since he, as a player long before they were born, came up short in a state championship game.

But the Golden Falcons, should they come up short, would still be lucky, Rich said, because the game that earned them a Final Four berth was “crazy.”

So, that, too, would be an unforgettable memory — one that would offset, with the euphoria it would allow them to relive, the pain that would come with a loss with a title shot on the line.

It was Nov. 14.

Montgomery Central had lost only one game all season.

And early in the contest, on the road in front of a raucous crowd in Pikeville, they punched in two goals and taunted the Golden Falcons faithful.

“It was the first time all season we had been down,” Rich said. “And this wasn’t one goal. We were down two.”

But then, an Aycock player got fouled in the box and Drew was called on to take the penalty kick.

“I knew that if I missed this goal, we were going to be in a deeper hole — that we could be in trouble,” he said.

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“ Nobody can take

this away from me, no matter what happens to me in life.”

Continued from page 15

Fortunately, one of his brothers made sure that wasn’t going to happen.

“He said, ‘Take a deep breath. You’ve got this,’” Drew said.

And with his father watching from the sideline — the man who had told him after several failed PKs this season to “go back to your bread and butter and no goalie can stop you” — he “buried it.”

“I knew as soon as I scored that goal, the momentum shifted,” the young man said.

He was right.

Less than two minutes later, Aycock tied the game — a contest that turned into a 102-minute overtime thriller, with CBA winning on a golden goal before its fans rushed the field.

“They’ll remember that game for the rest of their lives,” Rich said. “Those boys, this school, this community, we all will.”

Y

ears from now, few will remember who won the 5A Regional Championship on a mild Pikeville evening Nov. 18, 2025.

But Drew will never forget the journey of experiencing his historic senior season alongside his father.

“It feels like this season hasn’t been real.

It’s been a dream,” he said. “I’ve been living in a dream.”

And through soccer, he has learned what really matters in life — brotherhood, community, friendship, family, and faith.

So, he will hold on to the fact that 16 out of the 23 members of the Golden Falcons squad go to church together on Sundays.

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“God came with this team,” Drew said.

He will remember how his school — how Pikeville — rallied around soccer for, perhaps, the first time ever.

“I’m glad we were able to show this community that at Charles B. Aycock, there’s not just a football team,” he said. “I feel like people will talk about this season for the next five years at Aycock.”

And he hopes that decades down the road, long after he hangs up his cleats, he has the chance to relive what happened on the pitch this season with his own family.

“It’ll be a crazy story to tell my kids, to say I had my dad as my coach and was so successful,” Drew said. “It’s a blessing.

Hopefully, one day I can coach my kid the way he has coached me.”

For Rich, nothing could be sweeter than knowing his son has that perspective.

“It brings a tear to my eye,” he said. “I’m just proud — not just for Drew, but for this community and for this school. What these boys did this year, it’s unheard of. It really is unheard of.”

And when he decides to pass the torch — to hang it up as a manager and mark the end of a soccer career that has seen him win state titles as a player and coach and take to overseas pitches — he will hold on to the memories made not between player and coach, but as father and son.

“Nobody can take this away from me, no matter what happens to me in life. We’ll remember that (Montgomery Central) game in overtime. We’ll remember this season,” Rich said. “We’ll remember those moments for the rest of our lives.” n

A “VICTORY” THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME

The team might have fallen short of its state championship dream, but members of the Charles B. Aycock soccer team — and the community that rallied behind it — will remember these Golden Falcons for a long time.

F

or those of us who played competitive sports during our youth, following along as a team chases history takes us back in time.

And if, ultimately, that group fails to win it all, we relive, in our own way, the emotions that overcame us the last time we stepped off the hardwoods, diamond, or pitch.

As a journalist who has been covering Wayne County for more than two decades, I have experienced more than my fair share of tear-filled endings to what were, despite a less-than-desirable finish, dream seasons.

There was the Goldsboro High School basketball team that reached the Final Four — a squad that had perennial powerhouse Farmville Central on the ropes and was within minutes of a state championship berth before one of its star players went down with cramps.

I saw a talented Charles B. Aycock baseball team fall in the title game a decade ago and, more recently, watched Wayne Country Day’s boys and girls basketball teams come up just short of the rings they were chasing.

And Tuesday evening in Pikeville, I stood in disbelief as arguably the greatest Wayne County soccer team of all time — young men who could have folded when they were down 2-0 to defending State Champion Western Alamance but looked, in the waning

minutes, like they were on the verge of a second consecutive dramatic comeback win — collapsed, in unison, on the field when the final buzzer sounded.

Like the others, that ending transported me to the evening an 18-year-old fell to his knees and shed tears as his championship dream came crashing down.

I thought, for a moment, about how much it hurt that day to know that I would never again get to compete alongside friends who were more like brothers — and for a coach who had been a mentor.

I remembered how I refused to take my jersey off for hours because I thought I would lose the best feelings I had felt in my life forever.

But when those painful memories stopped playing, I allowed myself to enjoy what has happened since.

The truth is, nobody will ever be able to take from the Aycock soccer team what they accomplished this fall.

Their brotherhood will, they will find, last a lifetime.

But the memories will not be contained to goals scored and blowout victories.

And while those young men will likely carry the sting from Tuesday’s loss with them over the coming days, they will hold onto something far more important forever.

They won’t soon forget how they formed a circle before every match and bowed their heads in prayer.

They will remember not how many times a defender took them to the ground, but how it felt to have one of their teammates pick them up.

The tears after the game ended? Those images will be replaced with one of the brother who embraced them in what must have felt like one of life’s darkest hours.

And when some of those same young men are standing alongside a teammate on his wedding day — or hugging one another on Graduation Day — that’s when the real perspective will come.

But just in case, even though the sting of this loss is still fresh, they are ready to hear it, we wanted to share something else we learned as we watched the Golden Falcons make — and chase — history.

The crowd got larger every game.

The social media posts multiplied exponentially week in and week out.

You, a group of teenagers, brought hope and joy to an entire community.

You stayed together.

You set an example for supporters and bystanders young and old.

Because of that, you really don’t need a trophy.

You’re champions without one.

Not every high school athlete can say that.

Not every teenager can teach, through their bond, people twice their age.

And years from now, when this year’s 5A state championship trophy is gathering dust in a case somewhere, you will remain a part of the people you touched.

Every single one of you will be remembered.

And in the end, we can’t think of a better outcome for a team that reminded us that it is the chase that makes dreaming such a special part of life. n –by Ken Fine

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the SPECTATOR Holiday cheer

The Wayne County Public Schools annual Choral Showcase helped students and families kick off the holiday season.

PHOTOS BY CASEY MOZINGO

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NO T ICE S NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORSOF GARY RALPH EMERY

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Gary Ralph Emery, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before February 2, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 2nd day of November, 2025.

Kimberly Harper Executor of the Estate of Gary Ralph Emery 129 Charlie Braswell Road Goldsboro, NC 27530 Published November 2, 2025, November 9, 2025, November 16, 2025, and November 23, 2025

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Willo Whitfield Jordan, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before February 9, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 9th day of November, 2025.

Alphonso Llewellyn Jordan Jr., Administrator of the Estate of Willo Whitfield Jordan 109 South George Street Goldsboro, NC 27530 November 9, 2025, November 16, 2025, November 23, 2025, and November 30, 2025

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PUBLIC NOTICE —AUCTION SALE OF COUNTY PROPERTY

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners, at its meeting of November 4, 2025, pursuant to NCGS §160A270 and NCGS §153A-176, authorized the sale by public auction of the following personal property: • 8 filing cabinets • 1 commercial stainless steel (SS) dishwasher • 1 SS L-shaped counter with sink • 1 SS 6-foot counter • 1 SS 3-compartment sink • Electric warming cabinet • 2 SS handwash sinks • 1 SS 6-foot counter with sink • 1 SS 5 compartment warming table • 1 SS 12-foot rolling counter • 1 SS refrigerated counter • 1 SS 6-foot wall shelf • 1 SS 4-foot wall shelf • 3 6-foot metal clothes rack • 1 3-door Commercial refrigerator • 1 2-door commercial refrigerator • 1 meat slicer • 1 SS 12-foot counter • 1 SS 5-compartment warming table • 1 SS 6-foot counter • 1 SS 2 compartment sink • 1 SS 2 door warming cabinet • 1 SS Triple sink and tray wash • 1 SS 9-foot table with sink • 1 SS 6-foot table • 2 SS rolling carts • 1 tilt skillet • 1 SS kettle • 2 SS double ovens • 1 plastic warming cabinet • Various shelving units • Pots and pans • 2 commercial floor mixers • 1 commercial dishwasher • 1 SS L-shaped counter, • 1 SS L-shaped counter with sink The auction will be held at 8:30 a.m. on December 13, 2025, at RDD Auction Company, LLC located at 1260 Raynor Mill Road, Mt. Olive, NC 28365. All property will be sold in its current condition, as is, and the County gives no warranty with respect to usability of the property. Buyers will be required to pay the full amount of his or her bid before the conclusion of the auction to RDD Auction Company LLC in a manner of payment satisfactory to the auctioneer.

The County reserves the right

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to withdraw any listed property from the auction at any time before the auction sale of that property. Further information may be obtained by contacting RDD Auction Company, LLC at (919) 689-9440 or (919) 222-3215 or by visiting www. rddauction.com November 16, 2025, and November 23, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF STEPHEN S. GRADY, SR.

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Stephen S. Grady, Sr., late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before February 9, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 5th day of November, 2025.

Geraldine Kornegay Grady, Executor of the Estate of Stephen S. Grady, Sr. c/o L. E. (Trey) Taylor III, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, L.L.P. P. O. Box 1616, Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616 November 9, 2025, November 16, 2025, November 23, 2025, and November 30, 2025

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Linda Mae Corbett Beasley, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before February 16, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 16th day of November, 2025.

Tammy B. Wingard Administrator of the Estate of Linda Mae Corbett Beasley 2502 D PikevillePrinceton Road Pikeville, NC 27863 November 16, 2025, November 23, 2025, and November 30, 2025, and December 7, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Goldsboro will conduct public hearings during the course of their open meeting which starts at 5:30 P.M. on Monday, December 1, 2025, in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 214 North Center Street to consider the following requests.

tween Claridge Nursery Road and Nevels Street. The property is further identified as Wayne Co. Pin#: 269023208 .

ANNEX-04-25 Eagles Reach: The applicant is requesting to annex into the corporate limits of the City of Goldsboro approximately 36.90 acres of land. The property considered for annexation is located on the South-West side of US Hwy 70 W, North side of Westbrook Ave, and on both sides of Isaac Smith Road. The property is further identified as NCPIN# 2617-13-0043.

ANNEX-05-25 Joe Lionelli: The applicant is requesting to annex into the corporate limits of the City of Goldsboro approximately 2.19 acres of land. The property considered for annexation is located at 1810 West New Hope Road, between Catherine Street and Twin Oaks Place. The property is further identified as a portion of Wayne Co. Pin# 3600-97-4622.

ANNEX-06-25 Tucker Trace: The applicant is requesting to annex into the corporate limits of the City of Goldsboro approximately 57.30 acres of land. The property considered for annexation is located on the south side of Tommy’s Road, between US Hwy 117 N and Deans Lane. The property is further identified as a portion of Wayne Co. Pin# 3601-50-3388.

RZ-3-25 Paul T. Williams (Residential-16 to General Business).

The applicant is requesting to rezone from Residential-16 (R-16) Zoning District to the General Business (GB) Zoning District. The property considered for zoning reclassification is located on the West side of US 117N between Carolina Commerce Drive and Tommy’s Road. The property is further identified as Wayne Co. Pin#: 3600483976 (Portion of).

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

RZ-4-25 Mark Richie 1409-1411 W Grantham Street (General Industry to General Business): The applicant is requesting to rezone from the General Industry Zoning District to the General Business Zoning District (portion of). The property considered for zoning reclassification is located on the North side of West Grantham Street be-

Published November 16, 2025, and November 23, 2025

Mark E. Helmer Planning Services Manager

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF ERNEST C. KELLY

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Ernest C. Kelly, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before February 9, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 9th day of November, 2025.

Maurice A. Kelly, Executor of the Estate of Ernest C. Kelly P.O. Box 1503 Demorest, GA 30535 November 9, 2025, November 16, 2025, November 23, 2025, and November 30, 2025

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF TIMOTHY NEIL HARRINGTON

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Timothy Neil Harrington, late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said Decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before February 23, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 23rd day of November, 2025.

Kimberly Atkinson, Executor of the Estate of Timothy Neil Harrington c/o Caroline Taylor Phillips, Attorney at Law Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor & Smith, L.L.P. P. O. Box 1616, Goldsboro, NC 27533-1616 Published November 23, 2025, November 30, 2025, December 7, 2025, and December 14, 2025

REQUEST FOR BIDS — JEFFREYS BUILDING EXTERIOR WINDOWS

Wayne County is soliciting competitive, sealed bids from qualified vendors for the installation of all new external windows at the Jefferys Building Sealed bids will be submitted to Mandy Trujillo, County Procurement Specialist(919-705-1714), County of Wayne, 224-226 E. Walnut Street, or P.O. Box 227, Goldsboro, NC 27533 Attention Purchasing, no later than 2:00 P.M. on Thursday December 4, 2025.

All bids need to be clearly addressed and with Sealed Bid for Jefferys Building Exterior Windows on the outside of the envelope. Facsimile submissions will not be accepted.

Wayne County reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids and also reserves the right to accept the bid most advantageous to the County. Late bids will not be accepted and will be returned unopened.

You may obtain a copy of this RFP by contacting Mandy Trujillo, Procurement Specialist for Wayne County at 919-705-1714 or amanda.trujillo@waynegov. com. You may also visit our website at https://www.waynegov.com/Bids.aspx Published November 23, 2025

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Sealed proposals will be received by the Town of Pikeville on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 in at the Town of Pikeville Town Hall at at 105 West School Street, Pikeville, NC 27863; attn:Tim Biggerstaff, Town Manager; up to 2:00 pm and immediately thereafter publicly opened and read for the furnishing of labor, material and equipment entering into the construction of: Town of Pikeville Dees Memorial Park Phase 1 — Ballfield

Pikeville, NC 27863. The meeting will address project specific questions, issues, bidding procedures and bid forms.

Complete plans, specifications and contract documents will be in the online plan rooms: • Carolinas AGC/Reed Construction Data/Construct Connect • McGraw Hill Dodge The plans may also be obtained electronically by contacting Andrew R. Cruickshank, AIA at andyc@cra-ae.com. The set will be distributed through a link to the CRA Sharefile site.

All contractors are hereby notified that they must have proper license as required under the state laws governing their respective trades.

General contractors are notified that Chapter 87, Article 1, General Statutes of North Carolina, will be observed in receiving and awarding general contracts. General contractors submitting bids on this project must have license classification for Building Contractor, as set forth the license classification required by the NC General Contractors Licensing Board under G.S. 87-1 Each proposal shall be accompanied by a cash deposit or a certified check drawn on a bank or trust company, insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, of an amount equal to not less than five percent (5%) of the proposal, or in lieu thereof a bidder may offer a bid bond of five percent (5%) of the bid executed by a surety company licensed under the laws of North Carolina to execute the contract in accordance with the bid bond. Said deposit shall be retained by the owner as liquidated damages in event of failure of the successful bidder to execute the contract within ten days after the award or to give satisfactory surety as required by law.

Bids will be received for single prime contract.

All proposals shall be lump sum.

A performance bond and a payment bond will be required for one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price.

PRE-BID MEETING: A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at 2:30pm on Thursday, November 20, 2025 in the Pikeville Town Hall at 105 West School Street,

Payment will be made based on ninety-five percent (95%) of monthly estimates and final payment made upon completion and acceptance of work.

No bid may be withdrawn after the scheduled closing time for the receipt of bids for a period of 60 days.

The owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive informalities.

Designer: CRA Associates, Inc. Andrew R. Cruickshank, AIA, President 100 Europa Drive, Suite 565 Chapel Hill, NC 27516 (919) 883-6523 Owner: Town of Pikeville Tim Biggerstaff, Town Manager 105 West School Street Pikeville, NC 27863 (919) 242-5126 Published November 23, 2025

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Sealed proposals will be received by the Town of Pikeville on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 in at the Town of Pikeville Town Hall at 105 West School Street, Pikeville, NC 27863; attn:Tim Biggerstaff, Town Manager; up to 2:00 pm and immediately thereafter publicly opened and read for the furnishing of labor, material and equipment entering into the construction of: Town of Pikeville Dees Memorial Park Phase 1 — Restroom Bids will be received for single prime contract.

All proposals shall be lump sum.

PRE-BID MEETING: A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at 2:30pm on Thursday, November 20, 2025 in the Pikeville Town Hall at 105 West School Street, Pikeville, NC 27863.

The meeting will address project specific questions, issues, bidding procedures and bid forms.

Complete plans, specifications and contract documents will be in the online plan rooms: • Carolinas AGC/Reed Construction Data/Construct Connect • McGraw Hill Dodge The plans may also be obtained electronically by contacting Andrew R. Cruickshank, AIA at andyc@cra-ae.com. The set will be distributed through a link to the CRA Sharefile site.

All contractors are hereby notified that they must have prop-

er license as required under the state laws governing their respective trades.

General contractors are notified that Chapter 87, Article 1, General Statutes of North Carolina, will be observed in receiving and awarding general contracts. General contractors submitting bids on this project must have license classification for Building Contractor, as set forth the license classification required by the NC General Contractors Licensing Board under G.S. 87-1 Each proposal shall be accompanied by a cash deposit or a certified check drawn on a bank or trust company, insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, of an amount equal to not less than five percent (5%) of the proposal, or in lieu thereof a bidder may offer a bid bond of five percent (5%) of the bid executed by a surety company licensed under the laws of North Carolina to execute the contract in accordance with the bid bond. Said deposit shall be retained by the owner as liquidated damages in event of failure of the successful bidder to execute the contract within ten days after the award or to give satisfactory surety as required by law.

A performance bond and a payment bond will be required for one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price.

Payment will be made based on ninety-five percent (95%) of monthly estimates and final payment made upon completion and acceptance of work.

No bid may be withdrawn after the scheduled closing time for the receipt of bids for a period of 60 days.

The owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive informalities.

Designer: CRA Associates, Inc. Andrew R. Cruickshank, AIA, President 100 Europa Drive, Suite 565 Chapel Hill, NC 27516 (919) 883-6523 Owner: Town of Pikeville Tim Biggerstaff, Town Manager 105 West School Street Pikeville, NC 27863 (919) 242-5126 Published November 23, 2025

NOTICE OF INTENT TO LEASE TOWN PROPERTY

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, in accordance with NCGS Section 160A-272, the Board of Commissioners of the Town of Mount Olive intends to authorize the lease of the Dr. Spencer E. Durante, Sr., Athletic Complex, athletic field, and adjacent parking area located behind and west of the old former Carver School, 612 South Breazeale Avenue, Mount Olive, NC, to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes [FCA], at its regular council meeting on Monday, January 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM. The proposed lease is for ten [1 O] years with an annual lease payment of One Dollar [$1.00] per year.

The Board of Commissioners has previously determined by Resolution that the real property will not be needed by the town for the term of the lease.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes [FCA] is a non-profit organization that will provide sporting events, training and athletic competitions on the leased premises.

Dated: November 22, 2025.

W. CARROLL TURNER CITY ATTORNEY Published November 23, 2025

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 raises the existing offer at least 10% of the first $1,000 and 5% of the remainder. A qualifying bid must raise the existing offer to an amount not less than $1,100.00. 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 County Attorney PO Box 227 Goldsboro, NC 27533 (919) 705-1971 Published November 23, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE SALE OF COUNTY PROPERTY

Notices ontinued on page 22

An offer of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) has been submitted for the purchase of certain property owned by the County of Wayne, located at 1005 Regal Road, Goldsboro (PIN: 3529728800), more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot Six (6) in Block Q, Section 3, as is shown on a plat of Central Estates duly recorded in Plat Book 15, Page 51 in the office of the Register of Deeds for Wayne County, North Carolina.

Persons 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 December 3, 2025. At that time, the Clerk to the Board shall open the bids, if any, and the highest qualifying newoldnorth.com

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Notices continued from page 21

CITY OF GOLDSBORO — NOTICE OF OFFER AND SALE OF REAL PROPERTY

Notice is hereby given that the City of Goldsboro is the owner of a certain parcel of land referred to below: Tax ID# 12-2599-45-9711 Location: 316 Whitfield Dr. The City of Goldsboro has received an offer for the sum of $4,375.00 for the above-referenced parcel. The City of Goldsboro has received said offer and proposes to accept it subject to the right of any person to raise said bid by not less than ten percent (10%) of the first $1,000 and five percent (5%) of the remainder should the ultimate bid exceed $1,000.

Any person may raise said bid within ten (10) days from the date of this Notice or no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday December 3, 2025, by depositing with the City Finance Department five percent (5%) of the increased bid. For more information, interested parties

22

may reference bid instructions on the city website under Properties For Sale https://www. goldsb oronc . gov/f inanc e/ property-listings/ and listed as Resolution 2025-48. The written offer proposal must include the name of the person or business making the offer, address of said property, and Wayne County parcel identification number with the signature of the person placing the offer. All offers must be delivered to the Finance Officer in a sealed envelope printed on the outside the name or business making the offer, address of said property and Wayne County parcel identification number with the words “Upset Bid.” This is the 19th day of November 2025 The City of Goldsboro reserves the right to reject any or all offers at any time.

Catherine F. Gwynn Finance Director THE CITY OF GOLDSBORO, NC Published November 23, 2025

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NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of David Randolph Brown, Sr., late of Wayne County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the address below on or before February 23, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate are asked to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 23rd day of November, 2025.

David Randolph Brown, Jr., Administrator of the Estate of David Randolph Brown, Sr. 823 Possum Walk Lane Mebane, NC 27302 Published November 23, 2025, November 30, 2025, December 7, 2025, and December 14, 2025

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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