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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.

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 Pickle Festival

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 location

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

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.

Mount Olive Mayor Jerome Newton who has struggled in recent month to control town board sessions started Monday night’s session by laying down ground rules for acceptable behavior for the audience and commissioners. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Mayor lays ground rules for meeting behavior

The discord, disorder and at times acrimony that have marred Mount Olive Town Board meetings for the past several months were all but missing during Monday night’s session.

The popular pickle-eating contest will be back again for this year’s N.C. Pickle Festival on Saturday, April 26. Festival Co-chair Julie Beck, right, joined in on last year’s competition. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

N.C. Pickle Festival planning continues; theme is unveiled

N.C. Pickle Festival organizers say they knew they would get beaten up over their decision not to hold a classic car show during this year’s festival.

One of the changes planned for the 39th annual N.C. Pickle Festival is moving the Cuke Patch 5K Glow Run from downtown. To be held Friday, April 25, the run will start at Westbrook Park and end at R&R Brewing. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Changes highlight annual Pickle Festival planning

No festival-favorite car show, a new location for the Friday night free concert, an earlier set-in-stone vendor application deadline, requiring that all food vendors offer at least one picklely food, and new town impact fees are just a few of the significant changes planned for the 39th annual N.C. Pickle Festival.

Lynn Williams, left, N.C. Pickle Festival co-chairman, has been honored by the N.C. Association of Festivals & Events as Director of the Year. Festival Co-chair Julie Beck, center, and festival Administrator Melissa Kilpatrick hold the awards the festival and Pickles, Pigs and Swigs won during the N.C. Association of Festivals and Events Showfest held in Charlotte. The festival won Best Poster for its James Bond theme; Best Merchandise for the dill pickle soda created by R&R Brewing; Best Brochure (that won for the second time in as many years) for the festival map; and Best Non-Print Media for a pictorial stamp. Pickles, Pigs and Swigs won Best Merchandise for its hats. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Williams honored as Festival Director of the Year; Festivals bring home awards

N.C. Pickle Festival Co-chairman Lynn Williams suspected something was afoot when instead of finding the bottle of water she was searching for she discovered her mother, husband and grandson hiding out in a break room.