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Brad Mitchell and Jennifer Bland use a large pair of ceremonial scissors Friday afternoon for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Mount Olive location of their Grounded and Baked bakery and coffee shop. The bakery features baked goods using the recipes Mitchell’s grandmother, Norma Ann “Nanny” Vinson, seated, taught him. From left are, Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce President Julie Beck; Chamber board Chairman Edward Olive; Mitchell’s wife, Wendy; Mount Olive town Commissioner Vicky Darden; Mitchell’s aunt, Debbie Hardy; Norma Ann “Nanny” Vinson; Mitchell’s mother, Dianne Mitchell; Chamber Ambassador Pernell Brickey; Mitchell; Bland and her daughter, Collins; son, Andrew; and husband Frank. The business is located in the old Henderson-Crumpler Clinic, 229 N. Center St. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Grounded and Baked serving up baked goods and coffee sweetened with family memories and legacy

Pernell Brickey holds up a photo album featuring a photo of her father, Paul Smalley, left, whom she credited with getting her involved with the Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce. She shared her story Thursday night during the Chamber’s 95th anniversary celebration at Ribeyes Steakhouse. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Mount Olive Area Chamber celebrates 95 years of making a difference in the community

Mount Olive Exchange Club member James Kornegay, right, gets a U.S. flag for his friend and Southern Wayne High School classmate, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Carlton Keen. Keen spoke Monday morning during the Exchange Club’s second annual Field of Heroes dedication ceremony. Keen, a veteran combat pilot, is a native of the Grantham community. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Field of Heroes pays moving tribute to those who have made an impact on the lives of others

Vietnam veteran Robert Van Wormer salutes the flag he had just placed at the grave of a fellow Vietnam veteran Saturday morning at Oakview (Maplewood) Cemetery. Volunteers were busy placing flags on the graves of veterans ahead of Sunday’s annual Memorial Day observance and Memorial Day on Monday. In the background is his wife Sandra. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Memorial Day speaker offers encouragement to continue to honor a debt that can never be repaid

Hundreds of U.S. flags cover the area in front of Dudley Christian Church’s Veterans Rock for last year’s Armed Forces Day observance at the church, 212 O’Berry Rd., Dudley. The public is invited to the church fellowship hall on Saturday, May 10, for an 8 a.m. breakfast and then to help place the flags for this year’s observance that will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 18, at the church. The public is invited to that event as well. (Photo courtesy Dudley Christian Church)

Public invited to Dudley Christian Church’s annual Armed Forces Day observance and to help set out flags for the event

Jennifer Graham, 6, demonstrates her determination to make her goat, Ballerina, behave during the annual Wayne County Junior Livestock Show held Thursday, April, 24, at the Wayne County Fairgrounds, Dudley. Jennifer is the daughter of Justin Graham of Mount Olive. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Wayne County Junior Livestock Show continues decades of education, fun and family tradition.

DUDLEY — Show business can be tough even for a pig — just ask Baconator.

Mount Olive’s newest mural was unveiled during a brief Tuesday afternoon ceremony. Left to right are, Judson Pope, Pope Transport; Al and Deborah Southerland, Men of FIC, Rotary; Pam Brewer, building owner; Dave Sauls, Southern Bank; Lauren Saegar, Steele Memorial Library; Steve Wiggins, Mount Olive Community Development Corp. president; artist Winford Galmon; Jennifer Ricks Merritt, University of Mount Olive; Julie Beck, Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce president; Anna Hinson, Arts Council of Wayne County executive director; Bill Bryan, Mt. Olive Pickle Co.; Barbara Kornegay, Development Corp.; Ed Olive, UMO Agribusiness Center; Lynn Williams, N.C. Pickle Festival co-chair; and Mayor Jerome Newton. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Mount Olive unveils its new UMO Trojan mural just in time for this Saturday’s...

Stand in just the right spot next to the larger-than-life University of Mount Olive Trojan featured on the town’s third and newest mural and he is looking right at you.

Patricia McCoy Hill cuts the ribbon Tuesday morning during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new downtown location for her Hilltop Insurance Services and N.C. Realty. Behind Hill is her husband Maurice. Others include Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce officials Edward Olive, chairman, front row, left; Melissa Kilpatrick, immediate past chairman, front row second, from left; Julie Beck, president, front row, third from left; and far right, Leora “Sam” Jones, Chamber ambassador; and Pernell Brickley, second from right, board member. Hill purchased and rennovated the strip shopping area at 212 N. Center St.(Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Ribbon cutting held for Hilltop Insurance Services and N.C. Realty at its new downtown...

For Patricia McCoy Hill of Dudley buying and renovating a strip shopping area and then relocating her businesses there was a step of faith.

Mount Olive town commissioners met in closed session for about an hour on Friday, April 4, to discuss the search for a new town manager. Mayor Pro-tem Barbara Kornegay, who presided over the session, called it a productive session, but could not comment since it involved personnel. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Town board meets in closed session to dicuss town manager search

The Mount Olive Town Board met behind closed doors for about an hour on Friday, April 4, to begin its discussions about the search for a new town manager.

Kim Kornegay selects her rake while her daughter, Kim, considers her choice. The Kornegays were among the 20 or so volunteers who turned out Saturday morning at Westbrook Park for a Community Clean-Up Day at the park. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Volunteers clean up Westbrook Park so others can safely play

Kim Kornegay stood before the row of rakes and shovels, scanning back and forth before bending down to grab her choice.

An estimated 2,000 FFA students from across North Carolina, and some from South Carolina, along with their advisors and ag teachers, attended the University of Mount Olive’s 10th annual AgFest Thursday on the UMO campus. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

AgFest educates, entertains FFA students while planting the seed for potential new students

It is not unusual to see someone fry pickles — that is unless they are using a high-voltage transmission line.

N.C. Pickle Festival Co-chair Julie Beck presents the N.C. Association of Festivals and Events Best Merchandise Award to Ryan Roberts, owner of R&R Brewing, for his canned pickle soda. The soda also won the Southeast Festivals and Events Best Merchandise Award. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Award-winning pickle soda provides taste of N.C. Pickle Festival

Anyone thirsty for a taste of the N.C. Pickle Festival, as well as owning a unique collectible, are in luck — a locally produced pickle soda will be available again for this year’s 39th annual festival.

Cleanup for Wynn Cemetery in Mount Olive to be held March 15

The Wynn Cemetery cleanup will take place Saturday, March 15, from 9 a.m. -2:15 p.m. The community is being asked to participate.

Apostle Dr. Norbert Simmons, center, has been awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest honor. Left to right are, Congressman Don Davis of Snow Hill who presented the honor; Simmons’ wife Gwen; Simmons; Mount Olive Mayor Jerome Newton; and Goldsboro Mayor Charles Gaylor. Simmons, a Mount Olive native, is the founder of Deeper Life Church Ministries in Goldsboro. (Contributed photo)

Simmons presented The Order of the Long Leaf Pine

“May the work I’ve done speak for me.”

Mike Davis, left, Tri-County EMC general manager/CEO, was honored during the Monday night, March 3, town board session. The award was presented by Commissioner Vicky Darden, who established the program to recognize community service. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Town board recognizes community service during brief monthly session

It took the Mount Olive Town Board just under an hour Monday night, March 3, to handle its brief agenda that included honoring Mike Davis, Tri-County EMC general manager/CEO, and former town commissioner Harley Carmichael and his wife Della.