For the second time in 11 months, a Wayne County high school student brought a loaded gun to school. This time, it was Eastern Wayne High School that avoided a tragedy.
SEPTEMBER 28, 202 5 Volume 3, Issue 7 NEWOLDNORTH.COM
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.
CONTENTS
4 City road plan raises questions
Members of the Goldsboro City Council thought they had set aside several million dollars to ensure local roads did not get worse. It turns out, there is only $1.2 million to spend — leaving several members of the board looking for answers.
9 More trouble in Mount Olive
When Mount Olive Mayor Jerome Newton notified Mount Olive Housing Authority Board Vice Chairman Brent Heath that he was being removed from his position, he started a chain reaction that left the body with only one member — and might have violated North Carolina General Statute along the way.
10 Loaded gun found at EWHS
For the second time in 11 months, a Wayne County high school student brought a loaded gun to campus. Luckily, Eastern Wayne High School administrators found the firearm before it could be used.
12 Our Take
If voting to approve the county's proposed quarter-cent sales tax increase will ensure local schoolchildren are safe, this community, in our view, must ensure the March ballot measure passes.
16 Best of Boot finalists revealed
The 2025 edition of New Old North's contest brought out the best in this community — and tears to the eyes of some of the finalists who were recently given their stickers.
20 Public Notices
COVER DESIGN BY SHAN STUMPF
NEWS + VIEWS
Goldsboro road repair plan raises questions
Councilman Chris Boyette and Councilman Roderick White said they believed the 2025-26 budget included far more than the $1.2 million set to be spent to repair some of the city’s deteriorating roads.
BY KEN FINE
The warning delivered to members of the Goldsboro City Council back in January was clear.
Should the city continue funding street repair projects at what had become its traditional rate — $500,000 per year — nearly 70 percent of its roads would fall into the “very poor” category within 20 years.
And that, WithersRavenel engineers said, would result in a massive expenditure, as roads in that condition typically require expensive reconstruction.
So, when Assistant City Manager Kelly Arnold told the board Monday that only $1.2 million had been appropriated for road construction projects in the 2025-26 budget, several council members said they were confused.
Councilman Chris Boyette said he thought the number he agreed to was north of $3 million.
Councilman Roderick White said he walked away from budget discussions believing the city was poised to spend north of $2 million.
Arnold and Finance Director Catherine Gwynn told them they were mistaken.
And that was not the only concern voiced during the meeting.
Boyette also pointed out that the proposed road work plan did not address the 20 worst roads in the city.
But Engineering Services Manager Jonathan Perry said the decision on which roads to fix was made with cost in mind — that because moving heavy equipment around the city costs money, staff decided to focus on areas where multiple repairs could be made without having to unnecessarily bleed resources.
“What I wanted to do was look at long runs where we could maximize our dollars,” he said. “Thinking about it
from a construction standpoint, it’s just easier for them to move the equipment around and keep those dollars as low as we can.”
Work on the plan began in earnest after WithersRavenel unwrapped, for the council, the state of Goldsboro’s roads earlier this year, several months before the 202526 budget was adopted.
The firm reported that more than 41 percent of the city’s roads were in “very poor” condition — that to get every single one of them back to where they needed to be would cost $51 million.
WithersRavenel would end up presenting five funding options, all of which left Boyette feeling “hopeless.”
• They could keep spending $500,000 a year.
Continued on page 6
GOLDSBORO'S PROPOSED ROAD CONSTRUCTION PLAN
CRACK SEALING
Crack Sealing is a rubberized asphalt material that is applied into light block cracking that is generally greater than a quarter of inch in width. The technique reduces asphalt deterioration caused by water damage by blocking water from seeping into the base layer of the pavement — preventing cracks from widening and extending the life of pavement.
MICRO-SURFACING
Micro-Surfacing is a mixture of polymer-modified emulsified asphalt, aggregate, mineral filler, water and other additives that is applied using a specialized machine and box spreader. The technique extends the life of asphalt and improves safety for drivers through enhanced skid resistance and can be applied quickly causing minimal traffic disruption. Micro-Surfacing can add six to nine years of life to existing asphalt pavement.
RECONSTRUCTION
Pavement reconstruction consists of installing a new base layer under the asphalt and then laying down a new layer of asphalt. This technique can be achieved by either digging up the asphalt or milling down seven inches and installing five inches of binder or six inches of stone. Finally, two inches of asphalt is laid over the new base. Reconstruction improves the structural integrity of the road and can remedy other underlying issues that cause problems with the existing pavement — extending the lifespan of the pavement by decades.
REHABILITATION
Pavement rehabilitation is the method Goldsboro has used most frequently in recent years and includes milling and resurfacing. This technique eliminates cracks, potholes, and other surface irregularities that can be hazardous to drivers and pedestrians. It is generally less expensive than reconstruction and extends the lifespan of the road by a “significant” number of years.
The following is a breakdown of the cost of each project, the technique that will be used, and the severity of the road condition. The PCR, or Pavement Condition Rating, is a system for assessing road surface health based on distress that uses a scale of 0-100. The higher the score, the better the road. Map locations are approximate.
The total cost includes a $44,100 fee to be paid to engineering firm WithersRavenel.
Keen Plumbing Co.
Keen Plumbing Co.
•
• They could double the annual allocation.
• They could increase it to $1.7 million or $3.2 million.
• Or, they could adopt “Scenario Five” — a 20-year plan that would cost $6.5 million a year for the first five, $6 million a year for years six and seven, and $3.25 million a year for the next twelve.
“What’s alarming to me from reading this and digesting it … is that Scenario One, Two, or Three, we’re pedaling backwards. All we’d be doing is stopping the bleeding. It’s going to take Scenario Four to move the needle,” Boyette said. “That’s just almost incomprehensible.”
And Scenario Five, by far the best option, would almost certainly mean a massive tax increase, he added.
“Here we are. We can all do the math. Scenario Five is looking at triple the tax increase that we just did. There’s nobody that I know of that’s gonna say, ‘Sure. Raise my taxes 30 percent to have my streets looking good,’” Boyette said. “So, what do we do? And so … if we don’t do anything more than what was being done (in the past) and this continues to regress, by the time the streets (have) completely (fallen) apart, we’re not gonna be sitting up here. So, I feel like we’re faced with a situation as a council, where it’s, ‘What do we do?’ I mean, how do we do this, or do we kick the can down the road and let it be someone else’s problem? That’s a tough pill to swallow now that we’ve asked and been provided with the reality we’re looking at here.”
That is why he was so shocked when the council was informed Monday that only $1.2 million had been allocated in the 2025-26 budget.
“I think that I have mistook some of the previous information regarding the dollar amount that we’re proposing to spend,” he said. “I distinctly remember that the presentation said we needed to spend $3.2 million per year in order to stop pedaling backwards. It was my understanding … that when we finished with the budget, in round numbers, we had a million and something in Powell Bill, we had a million and something from the tag fee, and we had another million and something we had come up with.”
WithersRavenel did, in fact, tell the council that $3.2 million would be needed to ensure the overall condition of Goldsboro’s roadway system did not continue to worsen.
And the firm noted that it would cost that much just to reconstruct the 6.82 lane miles of road inside the city limits that needed it.
Another 135 lane miles, the firm said, would require “mill and overlay” rehabilitation projects that would cost nearly $41.16 million.
“So, I need to know what the misunderstanding was,” Boyette said.
Arnold said “all the Powell Bill” money was “pulled out” to pay for street improvements, but in order to “fill the gap” left by doing so, the city had to use money raised by what
Boyette called the “tag fee.”
“That allowed you to pull all the funds for streets out of the Powell Bill,” Arnold said. “We only got to $1.2 million for street improvements. The balance allows us to operate the Streets Department.”
Boyette fired back.
“Well, I guess I was just absolutely, completely mistaken, because I thought we had come up with a way to get $3 million,” he said.
White agreed.
“I’m on the same sheet of music as Councilman Boyette,” he said. “I thought we set aside (more than $1 million) in the actual budget. Then, we pulled out the Powell Bill. That makes it $2 million, I thought.”
Arnold turned to Gwynn and then back to the council.
“The finance director is saying my analysis is correct,” he said.
Boyette responded.
“Is it safe to say that’s discouraging?” he said.
•
Despite Perry’s assertion that the sooner the council approves the 2025-26 plan as presented the better, the board agreed to revisit the issue in October to allow staff to come up with an explanation for Boyette and White. And it remains unclear whether falling $2 million short of where WithersRavenel told the city it needed to be to ensure road conditions did not continue to deteriorate will prevent a majority of the council from voting to approve the 34 tracts that were recommended for repair in the coming months.
But later in the meeting, the board also heard from Mitch Brigulio, a financial consultant from Davenport & Company, who laid out the council’s options for obtaining larger sums of money that would allow staff to complete tens of millions of dollars in road construction needs more quickly.
“The projects that you’re doing this year, that’s kind of Step One,” he said. “How can we think about bridging the gap between what you’ve got funded right now … versus the recommended $3.2 million (a year).”
One option is General Obligation Bonds — a measure that would require approval from both the Local Government Commission and the voting public.
Mayor Charles Gaylor said the information presented to the council Monday would be at the center of what he expects to be continuous conversations in the coming months.
And City Manager Matthew Livingston said it would be wise of the board to begin making what most characterized as “tough” decisions.
“We’re behind the eightball,” Livingston said. “So, we have to find a way ahead.” n
In one evening, Mount Olive Housing Authority loses almost its entire board
All but one member of the organization’s board resigned after Mayor Jerome Newton told Vice Chairman Brent Heath he was being removed.
BY KEN FINE
It started when Mayor Jerome Newton sent Mount Olive Housing Authority
Vice Chairman Brent Heath a certified letter informing him that effective Sept. 1, his “role and term would expire” — a move he justified by alleging that Heath had missed seven meetings this year, suggesting, in Newton’s view, that he no longer had an interest in maintaining his role.
What the mayor did not know was that removing Heath would start a chain reaction that would, by the board’s Sept. 16 meeting, leave it with only one member — that the other three would abruptly resign.
He also appears to have failed to follow the steps outlined in North Carolina Gener-
— or asked for his legal advice.
“You would think that the mayor or the executive director would contact the Housing Authority attorney before they did something like that,” Turner said. “Well, that didn’t happen.”
Wayne Week has reached out to both Newton and Executive Director Erin Lambert for comment but has not received a response from either.
But questions about the legality of Heath’s removal from the board — and the fallout from the move — were not the only inquiries that would have been made had they responded.
There is also the matter of how the Hous -
“I'm not saying that anybody has done anything illegal, but I don't want to be blamed for something that's going on over there.”
al Statute — laws that govern how the removal of a housing authority commissioner must take place.
According to NCGS § 157-8, the mayor may remove a commissioner for “inefficiency or neglect of duty or misconduct in office.”
But North Carolina law dictates that can only happen after the commissioner is given a copy of the charges against him — and a hearing is held more than 10 days later at which the accused “had an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel.”
And the Housing Authority’s attorney, Carroll Turner, said Wednesday that has not happened.
“He has not given him an opportunity to be heard,” Turner told Wayne Week . “(Newton) has not held a hearing.”
But the attorney said that is not the only thing that “raises alarm bells.”
So, too, does the fact that he was not made aware of Newton’s pending decision
ing Authority plans to pay its bills, as both Heath and Turner confirmed that in order to do so, checks from the organization require two signatures — one of which must be that of either the board’s chairman or vice chairman and as of now, it does not appear the board has either.
And other revelations that have emerged in recent days would have been asked about as well.
According to Turner, Town Commissioner Barbara Kornegay was removed, by Newton, as the liaison between the Town Board and Housing Authority.
And neither Kornegay nor Turner have been notified about board meetings in several months, resulting in the board discussing issues and conducting votes outside the presence of its attorney and a watchdog from the town’s elected body.
That, Turner said, gives him pause — and reason for “real concern,” particularly after the April 2021 arrest of the organization’s
then-Executive Director Edward Wells Jr. for embezzling more than $30,000 in agency funds.
“With that history, it concerns me,” Turner told Wayne Week . “You know, when you have people with access to a considerable amount of money and nobody is looking over their shoulder, it can be a recipe for disaster. Now, I’m not suggesting that (current Housing Authority staff are) doing anything illegal because I wouldn’t know because Barbara Kornegay and I are not over there where we can look at anything. Again, I’m not saying that anybody has done anything illegal, but I don’t want to be blamed for something that’s going on over there.”
That, he said, is one of the reasons he is considering resigning his position.
The other?
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist for any-
body to figure out that if you have almost the entire board to resign in one night that there’s an issue somewhere,” Turner said.
Moving forward, Newton has the authority to appoint board members to fill the vacant seats.
But in order for the organization to have a chairman or vice chairman, quorum must exist, a meeting must be held, and an election must take place.
As of press time, there is no evidence to suggest that any of that has happened. n
Note: This is a developing story and records, including an email exchange between Newton and Heath, have been requested by Wayne Week pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act. Should the paper receive those documents — and comment from Lambert and/or Newton — additional coverage will appear in a future edition.
Another high schooler brings gun to campus
Less than a year after a Goldsboro High School student brought a loaded gun to school with the intention of using it, if necessary, an Eastern Wayne High School student came to campus armed.
BY KEN FINE
Eleven months after a Goldsboro High School student brought a loaded Polymer80 handgun equipped with an extended magazine that contained 23 live rounds to campus — and told staff he brought it for “self-defense purposes” because, in the wake of a “brawl” at the post-dismissal bus loading area earlier that week, he thought he might get “jumped” — an Eastern Wayne High School student was found in possession of a stolen firearm.
According to a press release issued by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Sept. 22, 18-year-old Demontae Jermaine McCoy “had the odor of marijuana on him,” so EWHS administrators decided to search his bookbag.
They thought the teenager might be “in possession of a vape.”
Instead, they allege they found a firearm.
And when the school resource officer took possession of it and ran the serial number, he claimed it had been reported stolen.
Wayne County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marc Whichard told Wayne Week the situation was “handled swiftly” — and that he has made it clear that incidents like the ones that unfolded at GHS last year and EWHS this week would not be tolerated.
“Wayne County Public Schools takes matters like this very seriously. As superintendent, I have zero tolerance for weapons on a school campus,” he said. “As we have told families, any student found in
possession of a weapon on campus will face strict disciplinary consequences as well as criminal charges.”
For McCoy, that could mean everything from a long-term suspension to expulsion — and jail time, as the WCSO charged him with two felonies, one for possessing a weapon on a school campus and the other for possession of a stolen firearm.
But beyond the district’s immediate response — and the potential consequences facing the teenager — Whichard also felt
the incident provided an opportunity to share that his staff, in tandem with the Board of Education, has gone to great lengths to improve security on WCPS campuses.
“I believe it is worth noting that at the district level, the Board of Education and staff have worked to increase school safety and security through a number of targeted efforts in recent years,” he said. “Utilizing a blend of local and state funds, the district has completed campus upgrades, increased law enforcement presence, upgraded cameras, and more. We are also continuing to advocate for increased funding and seek out new funding streams to further expand this work.”
Still, he wants parents and community members to understand that moving forward,
dren,” he said. “This is not about what the county needs. This is about what the school system needs.”
Commissioner Chris Gurley agreed.
“This is about protecting our children and grandchildren,” he said a week after he questioned how anybody could vote against the increase. “Who would vote against trying to keep their children and grandchildren safe in school? Don’t say, ‘We want our children protected. We want SROs in the school,’ and then vote against it. Here’s an opportunity.”
The issue of a lack of full-time SROs on nearly half of WCPS campuses when the 2025-26 school year began came to the fore after it was reported in the July 27 edition of Wayne Week.
This is about protecting our children and grandchildren.
school safety is a “shared responsibility.”
“We need parents to be proactive and talk with their child about the seriousness of bringing any inappropriate items to a school,” Whichard said. “We also need students to report immediately to a staff member if they ever become aware of someone who has a weapon or other prohibited item at school, on a bus, or a school event. Together, we can promote and maintain a safe learning environment for students, staff, and visitors.”
The superintendent’s assertion that ensuring WCPS campuses are safe is a community issue comes just weeks after members of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners approved putting a sales tax referendum on the March 3 primary election ballot — a measure that would, should it pass, see millions of dollars raised for the school district.
That money, according to board members who spoke to Wayne Week, would fund school safety initiatives including ensuring a full-time school resource officer housed on every WCPS campus.
The proposed quarter-cent increase — one that represents an additional 25 cents per $100 spent — is expected to generate more than $3.4 million per year.
And Commissioner Wayne Aycock said it was a small price to pay to keep children safe. “This is a must. This is all about our chil-
The story addressed the fact that despite the additional funding allocated by commissioners to WCPS — including an additional $500,000 to help pay for more SROs — a funding shortfall remained and, according to district officials, 15 of WCPS’ campuses did not have a full-time officer on the grounds when classes resumed.
At the time, Whichard acknowledged the shortfall, but said he remained hopeful about the future — and reinforced that his “vision” was to “one day have a full-time SRO in every school.”
And he, and WCPS Spokesman Ken Derksen, said district leaders and local law enforcement agencies have been discussing “how best to maximize SROs,” including rotating Wayne County Sheriff’s Office deputies on campuses that do not have a full-time or part-time SRO.
That, Whichard said, would help keep bad actors off school grounds until a true resolution is realized.
“I believe knowing that any school may have a law enforcement presence at any time serves as a deterrent to visitors or anyone from the outside who may be considering inappropriate behavior, harm, or some other ill intent at a school,” he said.
Derksen agreed, adding that sharing fulltime SROS and rotating others worked well during the 2024-2025 school year. n
A SMALL PRICE FOR SECURITY
It only takes one mistake.
One missed clue.
One lapse of judgment.
A distracted teacher or administrator.
One out-of-control or troubled student who decides violence is the answer.
A teenager who doesn’t think he or she has anywhere else to turn.
The difference between the tragedy of a school shooting that takes students’ lives and a safe school environment is a matter of details, preparation, and spending the money to get the security in place that prevents loss of life before it happens.
We think it won’t ever happen here — and, so too, did all of the other school districts that now have memorials in place and regrets.
We have seen firsthand the violence that seems to be spilling throughout this country.
We have been stunned by the callousness, the hatred, and the radicalized rhetoric — the ease with which profanity and bullying dominate social media.
But it turns out, the incident was not a one-off.
So, yes, we need to plan NOW.
Because here is the scary part: the gun in the EWHS student’s backpack was discovered by accident.
Administrators, according to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, were worried about a vape pen and the smell of marijuana.
They never thought they would discover a weapon, let alone one that was allegedly stolen.
Of course, there are concerns about the mental health of the student.
We have seen the rise in juvenile crime — and the seemingly larger number of students who just seem lost.
And we have noticed the fear and worried about the anger.
Yet, we keep hoping that we are wrong — that there is no real emergency in Wayne County, that we can concentrate on infrastructure and new school buildings or keeping our taxes low.
The other concerns, well they can wait.
And then something happens like what transpired at Eastern Wayne High School this week and we are reminded that school safety is not a luxury or a future goal.
We had hoped we would never have to have this discussion again after a Goldsboro High School student brought a gun to campus 11 months ago — a firearm with the serial number scratched off that was loaded with an extended clip and more than 20 bullets — and admitted he was prepared to use it.
What makes a teenager think he needs to carry a weapon onto a high school campus? Is this a fear thing or a gang thing? Where did he get it, and how did he get it into a school building? And was he under the influence of marijuana at school? How did that happen? But even more bone-chilling is that there was a real chance that this weapon might never have been discovered, and could easily have been accessed and used.
Heck, had the young man dropped the backpack, the gun could have gone off and killed someone.
No one wants to turn our schools into prison camps.
We have all seen the pictures of what it is like to enter a true inner-city school — the intense security and the real dangers of the influences that surround the campus.
We have seen the wands and the metal detectors — and noticed the presence of officers.
We like to think, “that’s New York or Chicago, not eastern North Carolina,” but the days of us pretending that “things like that just don’t happen here,” are over.
It could happen here.
It really could — any day, in any school, in the blink of an eye.
So, what do we do now?
We have made earnest efforts to improve the conditions and performance of Wayne County Public Schools.
And based on news shared over the last several months, the efforts are bearing fruit.
The county has stepped up, too.
More money is coming in to fix up buildings and to try to keep the best teachers and administrators working here.
So, in many ways, we are doing all the right things.
But the problem is that there is a limited pot of money.
We would like to believe there isn’t, but budgets and line items don’t lie.
So, how are we going to get the security upgrades we absolutely need to prevent having to live through a day like the one those parents who lost their children to school shooters had to endure?
How do we do everything we can to put a wall between a bad actor and a group of our most precious residents?
Luckily, there is a way to take a major step forward — to ensure that every county school has a school resource officer and the security equipment in place.
All you have to do is follow the lead of the
Wayne County Board of Commissioners.
We have told you before that the commissioners and the school district have joined forces to ask residents to pass a sales tax increase.
So, all of you will soon have the chance to decide on that measure.
The ask is not big — just an extra 25 cents for every $100 you spend.
And no, this is not just another tax hike designed to bail out bad spending decisions by a government entity, or a money grab to allow bureaucrats to stay in their cushy jobs while taxpayers try to figure out how to balance an already strapped bank account.
This is an important investment in what should be this community’s top priority — the safety of our children.
The money — north of $3 million a year — will be used to put those safeguards in place that we talked about and to put one more barrier in between the county’s schoolchildren and tragedy.
Having a school resource officer in place at every school, someone who is trained to handle emergencies, a law enforcement officer who knows how to spot the signs and to work with young people, really would be invaluable. And the basics, like metal detectors and perhaps even more unannounced locker
searches and K-9s taking a stroll through the halls every once in a while, well, that sends the message that security is a top priority in our schools.
It also would serve as a reminder to those who are habitual offenders that there is always someone watching.
But that is not enough.
We also need no-nonsense consequences and a firm stand that the rules will be followed — no excuses.
Get caught with a weapon, with drugs or threatening another student’s safety or defying a teacher will result in suspension or worse, along with potential criminal charges.
Combine that with programs that spot potential problems before they fester into full-blown mental instability, and resources for students who need extra support, and you have a working security plan that prioritizes accountability and compassion for students who need help.
It is what we need, and we cannot wait for the next windfall or a “better time.”
And here’s another “good thing.”
A sales tax increase does not target any one group, making it, by far, the fairest option.
Look, we get it. None of us are swimming in extra money right now.
And because your bills seem a little more daunting these days, the words “tax increase” are nauseating.
But what this money would accomplish is immeasurable.
So, we ask you to consider the following before you head to the polls this March — to talk through it with your friends and families. What amount of money is worth making sure no classroom of Wayne County children has to stare down the barrel of a gun?
Is it worth an extra few dollars a year — maybe the cost of a coffee at Starbucks or bottle of Coke — to put the pieces in place to make extra sure your children or grandchildren come home?
And can you be sure — really sure — that some teenager won’t be carrying a loaded gun in their waistband or backpack on your loved one’s campus Monday morning?
The sooner we get the security in place, the less of a chance we will ever know what it is like to be on the other end of a phone call from a terrified love one who is facing the unimaginable — or worse yet, to have to answer the door when a police officer comes to deliver the worst news a parent could ever get.
We think a few extra pennies is a small price to pay to do just that. n
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The facts always matter
We should all have learned something over the past few years about the destruction that can be caused when a rumor takes hold.
Accusations that get churned around in the gossip mill and then get spread like wildfire through social media are usually not the whole story — not by a long shot.
And accusations that are just that, absent a true and deep investigative dive into facts, can cause damage that a person or an organization cannot recover from.
These days, truth can take a funny turn.
Facts and clips from speeches or discussions can be arranged in a certain way to implicate guilt or wrongdoing.
You have heard the phrase, caveat emptor — buyer beware.
Well, that is particularly true when it comes to reports about organizations and individuals.
You should set a pretty high bar for the dissemination of anything that seems just a little too convenient and a little bit too pretty of a package.
Thank goodness many of our community members do that well.
But as high as your bar is, ours as professional journalists has to be set even higher.
We can’t just jump on the rumor bandwagon, or take at face value any accusation, claim, or story.
And while many in the media these days seem to be OK with running with innuendo and unsubstantiated allegations, we do things a little differently here at Wayne Week.
We think we do journalism the right way — the way it should be done, the way we were taught to do it when our profession was really about being the watchdogs and not the attack dogs at the beck and call of one side or the other.
We believe in getting more than just accusations or drooling over the clicks that a sensational headline will draw.
We drill down to the core of the issue — and talk to both sides and explore as many credible sources on the subject as we can.
And, most importantly, we bring receipts. We have shared with you, over these last few years, more emails, transcripts of audio recordings, court documents, audit files, official letters, and screenshots of Facebook posts than we can count.
Why?
Because that is what you do when you are a responsible voice for the community.
We don’t just go after a public official,
government body, municipal employee, or organization without ensuring that our work is bulletproof.
That is why the many people and governments we have held to account since our Wayne Week journey began gain little traction when they cry, “fake news.”
Our reporting leaves little room for doubt.
So, when we hear rumors like those surrounding Cry Freedom Missions and its CEO, Beverly Weeks, and we hear accusations of wrongdoing on a really troubling scale, it makes us pause.
We think it made many of you scratch your heads, too.
And yes, we have heard the many calls for Wayne Week to investigate — to find out the full story.
But before we talk about that, we have to tell you a little bit about how journalism is supposed to work.
When you are presented with a bunch of accusations presented as fact, you first have to evaluate the messenger.
So, let’s do that.
A “news organization” from a place that you probably have never heard of and a reporter who also is a stranger to Wayne County get a story about massive wrongdoing from a local charity whose mission is to help troubled young women and victims of sex trafficking.
That, in and of itself, begs a very important question.
Why, if you had a story of this magnitude about a local charity that is supported by not only thousands of local residents but also many local benefactors — not to mention one that receives money in the form of grants from the state of North Carolina — would you go to a newspaper that does not have the reputation or the connection in the community that is the home to that organization?
And we don’t just mean Wayne Week.
No one went to the other newspaper in our community, WRAL, ABC11, or the News & Observer
It’s not like any of us are hard to find. They picked a publication and a reporter no one here has heard of.
What could possibly be the reason for that?
And how, given the source, did this thing go “viral” within minutes of its publication?
Awfully convenient, eh?
It is why we tell you how important it is to consider the source when you are trying to determine whether a report is believable or not.
But the truth is, we know nothing about the person who wrote this story — and we
have not yet been able to determine how it managed to spread so quickly through the community, though we certainly have a theory.
Perhaps the reporter just thought he was getting important information to the readership of his publication.
Perhaps his sources did not think Wayne Week, or another local news organization, was up to the challenge.
We can’t judge intent.
But we can keep a sharp eye out for technique and believability.
And we are not going to lie.
This one smells pretty fishy.
So, until we know more of the facts — and until we get a chance to explore the accusations ourselves — there is no way any of this is going to appear in Wayne Week.
Despite what some of those who have been on the wrong side of our investigative pieces might lead you to believe, we don’t do “hit pieces.”
And we certainly don’t jump on bandwagons. You see, responsible journalists never touch a rumor, and they certainly do not just run with a story that is fed to them.
They don’t because they know how easy it is to get it wrong and do real damage.
And let’s talk about something else that gives us pause.
The sources in this report are complicated, at best.
One of them admitted as much to the reporter but was used in the story anyway.
And where are the numbers?
The evidence?
The documents?
The emails?
The photographs?
The litany of testimonials from the countless women who were allegedly “pimped” by Weeks and subjected to what the reporter seemed to allow a source to compare to slave labor?
Where are the interviews with community members, lawmen, or Weeks herself?
And why is it that dozens of volunteers, former employees, and women who claim they have been “saved” by Cry Freedom have been so willing to come forward and put their names on a piece that would dispute just about everything that article had to say — from how the jewelry sold at CFM is made to the impact Weeks has made on their lives?
See? Something just isn’t adding up.
We at Wayne Week have watched our profession fall apart.
We have seen responsible journalists who guard their impartiality with zealousness and who do the hard work to make sure
what they are reporting is fair and accurate replaced with irresponsibility and bias.
We know you wonder every day whom you can trust — and who is speaking the truth and who is bought and paid for.
We do, too.
So, we will promise you this.
We want to know the truth here.
We are already starting to evaluate the claims made against Cry Freedom.
And yes, if we see that there is something there to chase, you better believe we will.
We will look at the facts, do the due diligence, and get the receipts.
We will request the interviews and talk to employees, volunteers, lawmen, and young women who have gone through the program.
We will look at reports on the organization and others like it and compare operating costs, salaries, and any other information that might suggest how well-run the organization is or is not.
We will talk to those who don’t like what Cry Freedom does as well as those who are raving fans.
And if we find anything shady — or anyone who has done the research or who has checked the organization tells us that there is wrongdoing and where to look — you can bet it will appear on the cover of Wayne Week
And let us be clear about something else, too. When we report on a story of this magnitude, we swing for the fences and leave no doubt about the motive of the people who ran that investigation.
But there is flip side here, too.
If we discover that someone who doesn't like or disagrees with Beverly Weeks — someone looking to challenge her for her seat on the City Council, another political foe, a non-profit that is hoping to get some of her funding, or someone who didn’t like Weeks’ recent line of questioning regarding the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation — is behind this article and the furor it caused, you can bet they will grace our cover instead.
It might not be the easiest way to “sell papers,” but it is the principled and honest way to create the kind of journalism that makes a community better.
Having standards is harder than simply blurting out a rumor to increase your circulation. But the cost of not going all-in is just too high. Doing the real story, the complete story, takes a lot more time and effort.
But it is how you stay journalists and a newspaper people can count on for the truth — no matter what that investigation reveals. n
You have likely seen the celebration posts on social media — or walked into a restaurant, boutique, or other business that already has a “Best of the Boot 2025 Finalist” sticker affixed to its front door.
But what you might not know is that several first-time finalists literally shed tears when they received their stickers — telling members of our team that they had “dreamt” about, one day, being honored by the community they have chosen to serve.
And when we told them that a staggering 26,000-plus unique voters submitted ballots during this year’s vote, it only added to their excitement.
That is why we decided to list the finalists in Wayne Week for the first time in the contest’s history.
We wanted you to know that all of that joy is because of you.
But we also wanted to ensure we laid out the next — and final — step of Best of the Boot.
Once all the finalist stickers have been distributed, members of our photojournalism team will head out and begin taking photographs and our print team will curate the copy for this year’s version of our award-winning magazine. (And don't worry. While they do so, they will note that just because your photo is being taken, it does not guarantee a victory.)
Then, once the magazine is ready to hit the press, we will announce, on the New Old North Facebook page, the details of our release event — a community gathering that will unfold in downtown Goldsboro.
We hope to see you there.
And we also hope that you take a minute to soak in the boost your participation in Best of the Boot has given to those members of our community who make Wayne County such an incredible place.
That is, after all, the reason we created this contest in the first place.
FOOD & DRINK
BEST BURGER
-Hwy 55
-Three65 Bar & Grill
-P.T.’s Olde Fashioned Grille
BEST FRIES
-P.T.’s Olde Fashioned Grille
-Chick-fil-a
-Five Guys
BEST RESTAURANT
-Carl & ’Chelle’s Grill Room
-Laughing Owl
-The Borough
BEST SEAFOOD
-Vailhouse Oyster Bar & Grille
-Jay’s Kitchen
-McCall’s BBQ & Seafood
BEST CHICKEN
SANDWICH
-Chick-fil-a
-Bojangles
-P.T.’s Olde Fashioned Grille
BEST SANDWICH (NOT CHICKEN)
-Jersey Mike’s
-Great Harvest Bread Co.
-The Plow House
BEST BBQ JOINT
-Grady’s BBQ
-Wilber’s Barbecue
-Adams Roadside BBQ
BEST BBQ SANDWICH
-Grady’s BBQ
-Wilber’s Barbecue
-Adams Roadside BBQ
BEST WINGS
-East Coast Wings
-Lighthouse
-The Borough
BEST BREAKFAST SPOT
-Lantern Inn
-Kathy’s Kitchen
-B&G Grill
BEST ASIAN FOOD
-Laughing Owl
-Jay’s Kitchen
-Nai Thai 2
BEST PIZZA
-Brooklyn Pizzeria
-Pizza Inn
-Bricks Woodfired Pizza
BEST STEAK
-Carl & ’Chelle’s Grill Room
-Western Sizzlin’
-Texas Roadhouse
BEST DONUTS
-Krispy Kreme
-Mickey’s Pastry Shop
-DUNKIN’
BEST BREWERY/ BOTTLE SHOP
-Brewmasters
-Goldsboro Brew Works
-Well Travelled Beer
BEST COCKTAILS
-Church Spirits & Cocktails
-Momento Tapas & Craft Cocktails
-The Borough
BEST ICE CREAM
-Stay Sweet Bakery & Ice Cream
-Terry’s Tasty Shoppe
-Cold Stone Creamery
BEST BARTENDERS
-Church Spirits & Cocktails
-Goldsboro Brew Works
-Laughing Owl
BEST COFFEE
-Southern Ground
-Labrar Coffee Shop
-Starbucks (Berkeley Boulevard)
BEST BARISTAS
-Southern Ground
-Labrar Coffee Shop
-Gypsy Bean
BEST DESSERT SPOT
-Café Le Doux
-Stay Sweet Bakery & Ice Cream Shop
-Legacy Cakes & Courtesies
BEST PRODUCE
-Country Fruit Stand #2 -Britt Farms -Elroy Farms
BEST CATERER
-The Plow House
-Carl & ’Chelle’s Grill Room -Chick-fil-a
BEST FOOD TRUCK SKULLIES STREET Q
-Gents’ Bounty BBQ
-Taqueria Flores Mexican Food -Skullies Street Q
BEST MEXICAN FOOD -Mezcalito
-Azul Tequilas Mexican Bar & Grill -Dos Marias
Continued on page 18
Note: The order of the finalists is not an indication of who won. Winners will be announced in our 2025 Best of the Boot magazine. Also note that in our print edition, three finalists were accidentally replaced with fourth-place finishers, who will get an "Honorable Mention" designation in the magazine. We appreciate those businesses' understanding
Continued from page 17
HEALTH & FITNESS
BEST FITNESS CENTER
-Planet Fitness
-Gold’s Gym -Larry’s Gym
BEST PHARMACY
-Rosewood Pharmacy
-Downtown Pharmacy
-Southeast Family Pharmacy
BEST VETERINARIAN
-Berkeley Veterinary Clinic
- North Wayne Animal Hospital -Wayne Veterinary Hospital
BEST HOSPICE
-Kitty Askins -Gentiva
BEST DOCTOR
-Samer Kasbari -Thad West -Phillip Moye
BEST NURSE
-Maquita Ingram
-Holly Hardee
-Cindy McPhail
BEST DENTIST
- Smith, Adams & Pilkington Family Dentistry
-LaFevers Dental
-Riccobene Associates Family Dentistry
BEST HAIR SALON
-The Loft
-Hairology of Goldsboro -Innerbloom Beauty
BEST SPA
-The Loft
-Innerbloom Beauty
-Elevated Aesthetics
BEST ORTHODONTIST
-Potts Orthodontics
-LaFevers Dental
-Goldsboro Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics
BEST HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
- Mount Olive Family Medicine Center
-UNC Health Wayne -SMOC
BEST MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER
-Waynesboro Family Clinic
-Goldsboro Counseling Center -Godwin Psychiatry
BEST PET GROOMER
-Eli’s Friends
-Two Paws Up -Bark and Bone
BEST TANNING SALON
-Sun of a Gun
-Dream Makers Tanning -B’s on Breazeale
BEST EYE CLINIC
-Atlantic Eye Center
-Mitchell Eye Center - Waynesborough Ophthalmology
BEST CHIROPRACTOR
-Democko Chiropractic
-Nackley Chiropractic & Acupuncture
-Goldsboro Spine Center
PLAY
BEST TATTOO SHOP
-Dark Rose Tattoo Gallery
-Iron Tradition Tattoo
- Deep Space Tattoo & Piercing
BEST LOCAL MUSICIAN
-Jimmy Deve
-Eli Winders
-Wood & Steel
BEST FESTIVAL/ COMMUNITY EVENT
- Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair
-Center Street Jam
-N.C. Pickle Festival
BEST VISUAL ARTIST
-Miller Delbridge
-Lewis Braswell
-Mary Kane Medlin
BEST EVENT VENUE
-Maxwell Center
-Paramount Theatre -Cornealius Properties
BEST GOLF COURSE
-Lane Tree
-Walnut Creek
-Goldsboro Municipal
BEST PARK
-Cliffs of the Neuse -Herman Park
-Bryan Multi-Sports Complex
BEST FAMILY VENUE:
-Downtown Goldsboro
-AMF Boulevard Lanes
-Round-A-Bout Skating Center
PUBLIC SERVICE
BEST LOCAL POLITICIAN
-John Bell
-Julie Whitfield
-Beverly Weeks
BEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER
-Karri Jo Jernigan
-Nicki Thigpen
-Emily Honn
BEST MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER
-Stephen Frederick
-Ginger Winders
-Lauren Wolfe
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER
-Karen Terrell
-Sara McLamb
-Jordyn McGhee
BEST NON-PROFIT
-Cry Freedom Missions/ Wayne Pregnancy Center
-Kriquette’s Kidz
-Habitat for Humanity
BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL
-Wayne Christian School
-Faith Christian Academy
-Wayne Country Day
BEST GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE
-Dr. Marc Whichard
-Ken Derksen
-Carol Bowden
BEST EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY GROUP
-Partnership for Children
- Wayne County Public Library
-Battle of the Books
BEST LOCAL MENTOR
-Beverly Weeks
-Kate Daniels
-Matthew Whittle
BEST YOUTH GROUP
-Bethel Youth
-Young Life
-Flow Students
BEST PROFESSOR (UMO)
-John “Wes” Warren
-Dr. Norman Crumpacker
-Julie Beck
BEST PROFESSOR (WCC)
-Katie Holloman
-Paul Casey
-Erin LeGrand
BEST COACH
-Tom Zietlow
-Adam Pate
-Jason King
SERVICES
BEST DAYCARE
-Wayne Christian
-Little Bulldogs Child Development Center
- Kids-R-Us Childcare & Preschool
BEST CHURCH:
-Bethel
-First Church
-Mount Olive First Pentecostal Holiness Church
BEST INSURANCE AGENT
-Steve Sutton
-Melissa Throm
-Dana Jones
BEST MORTGAGE BROKER
-Baron Wise
-Blake Herring
-Karen Russo
BEST ROOFING COMPANY
-Wayne Sanchez Roofing
-Lopez Brothers Roofing
-Felix Ruiz Construction
BEST PROPERTY MANAGER
-Down Home Realty and Property Management
-REA Properties
-Eagles Properties, Inc.
BEST CAR WASH
-Rocket Wash
-Case’s Detailing
-Pirates Cove Car Wash
BEST CARPET/ FLOORING COMPANY
- Johnson Carpet One Floor & Home
-Premiere Carpets & Flooring
-Abbey Carpet of Goldsboro
BEST PHOTOGRAPHER
-Casey Mozingo
-Payton Herring
-Kristin Lassiter
BEST MOVING COMPANY
-Two Men and a Truck
-Bekins Moving & Storage
-Horne Moving Solutions
BEST FARM
-West Family Farms
-Odom Farming Co.
- Jericho Farms
BEST ENGINEERING COMPANY
-B.R. Kornegay
-Cox-Edwards
-McDavid Associates
BEST MARKETING/ ADVERTISING COMPANY
-New Old North Media
-Accucopy
-Big Blue Couch Media
BEST HOTEL
-Homewood Suites
-Holiday Inn Express
-The Barrister’s Loft
BEST INSURANCE COMPANY
-NC Farm Bureau
-Crawford-Henderson
-Rosewood Insurance Agency
BEST PEST CONTROL
-Griffin Exterminating
-Arrest-A-Pest
-The Pest Dr.
BEST TRAVEL AGENT
-Mallory Dumond
-Magical Vacation Planner by Ashley & Chris Stroud
-Kelli Gurley Bell
BEST FUNERAL HOME
-Seymour -Howell -Tyndall
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT
-Riley Wilkins -Rob Phillips
-Judith McMillen
BEST FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMPANY
-Buck’s Fire Extinguisher
-Quality Fire Extinguisher Sales & Service
BEST HEATING AND AIR COMPANY
-Jackson & Sons
-Daniels Heating and Air Conditioning
-E.T. Ferrel & Son Heating & Air Conditioning
BEST PLUMBING COMPANY
-Keen Plumbing -C and M Plumbing and Septic Tanks
-Rosewood Plumbing
BEST FLORIST
-Pinewood Florist
-Beth’s Bloom’s & Arrangements
- Brooke’s Fresh Cut Flower Farm
BEST LAW FIRM
-Haithcock, Barfield, Hulse and King
-Nina Field Jackson
Attorney at Law
-Barber & Webster
BEST ATTORNEY
-Nina Fields Jackson
-Tonya Barber
-Geoff Hulse
BEST AUTO DEALER
-Deacon Jones Auto Group
-Toyota of Goldsboro
-Sports Durst
BEST AUTO REPAIR
-Tony’s Service CenterHill’s
-Tire & Auto Service
-Circle Tire
BEST CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
-Daniels and Daniels
-Doug Herring Builders
- Jackson Builders
BEST LANDSCAPING COMPANY
-Landscape Design of Goldsboro
-Wright Brothers Lawn & Landscaping
-C&K’s Lawn Care & More
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENCY
-BHHS — McMillen & Associates
-Wilkins & Lancaster Realty
-The Firm NC
SHOP
BEST VINTAGE/ THRIFT SHOP
-Cry Freedom Missions
Thrift Shoppe
-InJoy Thrift Store
-Lola’s Vintiques
BEST JEWELRY STORE
-Alan Sutton Jewelry
-Barnes Jewelers
-Buddy’s Jewelry
BEST FURNITURE STORE
-Jernigan’s Furniture
-Daniels Furniture
-The Red Shed
BEST HARDWARE STORE
-Ace Hardware (Hwy 111)
-Delmus Hardware
-Red Devil Hardware
BEST GARDEN CENTER
-Casey’s Garden Center
-Timmy’s Roadside Gardens
-Jericho Farms
BEST BOUTIQUE
-Mimi’s Boutique
-Bicycle World
-Cry Freedom Missions
BEST CLOTHING STORE (FOR HER)
-Mimi’s Boutique
-Belk
-Meg’s Shoppe
BEST CLOTHING STORE (FOR HIM)
-Bicycle World
- Country View Western Store
-Belk
BEST UNIQUE GIFT STORE
-Cry Freedom Missions
- 2nd Amendment on Main
-Grate Sauces and Rubs
BEST OFFICE SUPPLY STORE
-Accucopy
-Staples
-Walmart
BEST STOREFRONT/ CURB APPEAL
-The Loft
-Cry Freedom Missions
-Between the Lines
NOTICES
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Julia Cousins Frederick, 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 December 8, 2025, 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 7th day of September, 2025.
Adrian S. Cousins, Administrator of the Estate of Julia Cousins Frederick 105 Bernier Court Princeton, NC 27569
September 7, 2025, September 14, 2025, September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF JOHN MERRITT LEAR PEACOCK
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against John Merritt Lear Peacock, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 8th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 7th day of September, 2025.
Robin Peacock Dawson, Executor of the Estate of John Merritt Lear Peacock
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
September 7, 2025, September 14, 2025, September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF JOYCE SMITH COATES
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Joyce Smith Coats, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 8th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 7th day of September, 2025.
Douglas Allen Coates and Lori Coates Thomas, Co-Executors of the Estate of Joyce Smith Coates
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
September 7, 2025, September 14, 2025, September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF JOSEPH IRVIN POWELL
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Joseph Irvin Powell, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 8th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 7th day of September, 2025.
Willie Ray Powell, Administrator of the Estate of Joseph Irvin Powell 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
September 7, 2025, September 14, 2025, September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF MARY ALICE WILSON
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Mary Alice Wilson, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 8th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 7th day of September, 2025.
LuAnn Smith Burton, Executor of the Estate of Mary Alice Wilson 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
September 7, 2025, September 14, 2025, September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Brian Lee Hitch, deceased of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 15th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 14th day of September, 2025.
Brianna Marie Hitch Administrator of the Estate of Brian Lee Hitch 1001 Broadbank Drive Apt. 329 Leland, NC 28451
Published September 14, 2025, September 21, 2025, September 28, 2025, and October 5, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Jamie Royall, deceased of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 21st day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 21st day of September, 2025.
Khary Royal Administrator of the Estate of Jamie Royall 226 Jeff Outlaw Road Mount Olive, NC 28365
Published September 21, 2025, September 28, 2025, October 5, 2025, and October 12, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Kay Jefferson Dudley, 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 December 29, 2025, 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 28th day of September, 2025.
Shirley D. Deans, Administrator of the Estate of Kay Jefferson Dudley 314 Crown Point Road Greenville, NC 27838
Published September 28, 2025, October 5, 2025, October 12, 2025, and October 19, 2025
WAYNE COUNTY CITIZENS — PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing Tuesday, October 7, 2025 to consider a proposed amendment to the Wayne County Zoning Map. The hearing will be held at 9:30 am in the Wayne County Commissioners Meeting Room, Wayne County Courthouse Annex, 224 East Walnut Street, Goldsboro, NC. The item to be discussed:
Z-25-01 – Amend the Wayne County Zoning Map by rezoning 10.62 acres from Community Shopping (CS) to RA-20. The property is located in Brogden Township along the west side of US Hwy 117 at Swinson Drive and is listed in the Wayne County Tax Office as Parcel Number 2585109656, 2585008517, 2585119046, 2585210132, 2585211137, and 2585212241.
The public is invited to attend and speak at this hearing and/or submit any comments. Written comments before the meeting may be submitted to the Wayne County Planning Department, PO Box 227, Goldsboro, NC 27533 or berry.gray@waynegov. com. Questions may be directed to the Planning Department by calling 919-731-1650.
Carol Bowden Clerk to the Board
Published September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
WAYNE COUNTY CITIZENS — PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing Tuesday, October 7, 2025 to consider a proposed amendment to Article VI of the Wayne County Code of Ordinances. The hearing will be held at 9:30 am in the Wayne County Commissioners Meeting Room, Wayne County Courthouse Annex, 224 East Walnut Street, Goldsboro, NC. The item to be discussed:
A-25-02 – Amend Article VI of the Wayne County Code of Ordinances to apply the existing Electronic Gaming Operations Ordinance to tobacco and hemp retail operations and to remove the allowance of accessory gaming operations.
The public is invited to attend and speak at this hearing and/or submit any comments. Written comments before the meeting may be submitted to the Wayne County Planning Department, PO Box 227, Goldsboro, NC 27533 or berry.gray@waynegov. com. A full copy of the amendment may be obtained from the Planning Department by calling 919-731-1650.
Carol Bowden Clerk to the Board
Published September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
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, October 6, 2025, in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 214 North Center Street to consider the following request.
New Street Naming: A new road was constructed by NCDOT to serve properties after a road realignment relocated Central Heights Road to align with Royall Avenue. This newly constructed road requires a name and addresses for postal delivery and emergency services. The section of road runs from the intersection at Berkeley Boulevard South-Eastward, approximately 1,581 linear feet to its terminus.
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.
Mark E. Helmer, AICP, CFM Planning Services Manager
Published September 21, 2025, and September 28, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Nathaniel Tyner, 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 December 21, 2025, 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 21st day of September, 2025.
Ann H. Tyner, Administrator of the Estate of Nathaniel Tyner 2307 Labrador Court Greensboro, NC 27406
Published September 21, 2025, September 28, 2025, October 5, 2025, and October 12, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORSOF
DALE O’BRIEN BIZZELL
Having qualified as Executors of the Estate of Dale O’Brien Bizzell, 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 December 21, 2025, 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 21st day of September, 2025.
Danya Bizzell and Dwight Bizzell
Co-Executors of the Estate of Dale O’Brien Bizzell 2221 Rainy Lake Street Wake Forest, NC 27587
Published September 21, 2025, September 28, 2025, October 5, 2025, and October 12, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF VIRGINIA LEE DOWERS
All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Virginia Lee Dowers, deceased, of Wayne County, are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 29th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 28th day of September, 2025.
Mark J. Hale, Jr., Administrator of the Estate of Virginia Lee Dowers 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 September 28, 2025, October 5, 2025, October 12, 2025, and October 19, 2025
