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Hampton Lee opens Friday’s Fourth of July celebration at Westbrook Park by singing the national anthem. The annual event was co-sponsored by the Mount Olive Exchange Club and Rotary Club. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Town celebrates Fourth of July holiday with free food, drinks, and entertainment

The Exchange and Rotary clubs will co-host the town’s annual Fourth of July celebration from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Westbrook Park. The free event will include bingo at the senior center. (Courtesy file photo|Mount Olive Exchange Club)

Mount Olive Exchange, Rotary clubs to co-host Fourth of July celebration Friday at Westbrook Park

Glowing bright green and yellow, the neon sign at the Mt. Olive Pickle Co. Pickle Parlor has changed the appearance of downtown and is particularly noticeable at night. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Pickle Parlor offers all things pickle gifts and a glimpse into the legacy and history of Mt. Olive Pickle Co.

A sign and flashing light warn motorists traveling west on N.C. 55 toward Mount Olive that they are approaching the all-way stop at the road’s intersection with Secondary Road 1744 (Old Seven Springs Road and Indian Springs Road). The N.C. Department of Transportation plans to turn the intersection into a single-lane roundabout as part of an $8 million project that includes eliminating the intersection of N.C. 55 and North Church Street. Also, North Church Street will end with a cul-de-sac, and the Old Seven Springs Road/Indian Springs Road and North Church Street intersection will be converted to an all-way stop. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

N.C. 55 and Secondary Road 1744 intersection to be turned into roundabout

Isaiah Whitfield stretches to take a photo of his parents, Michael and Fransha Whitfield, as they pose in front a banner celebrating Juneteenth. The Whitfields were among the hundreds who attended Saturday’s fourth annual Community Juneteenth Celebration sponsored by the Mount Olive Chapter of the Carver High School Alumni and Friends Association. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Juneteenth celebration urges community to draw strength from the past

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...

Brad Mitchell has countless fond memories of time spent with his grandmother, Norma Ann “Nanny” Vinson, especially her baking lessons using her recipes — memories he wants to share with others while helping them make memories of their own.

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

“This man, right here, is my daddy, Paul Smalley,” Pernell Brickey said holding a photo album of former Mount Olive Area Chamber of Commerce leaders above her head. “He was the chairman in 2001. He passed away in 2013.

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...

Overhead, dull gray skies threatened rain Monday morning, but the vacant lot adjacent to Roberts Machine & Supply on N.C. 55 West was ablaze with the colors of U.S. flags billowing in a brisk breeze.

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...

Robert Van Wormer drove his screwdriver into the hard ground at Oakview (Maplewood) Cemetery; in the hole it left, he placed a small U.S. flag.

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...

DUDLEY — The public is invited to Dudley Christian Church’s third annual Armed Forces Day Service Sunday, May 18, at 11 a.m.

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.