Saturday, April 19, 2025

			
				                                Volunteers spent a sunny Saturday, March 29, sprucing up Janice Faye’s Ranch on The Avenue, including replacing a fence and washout on the property that occurred during flooding in August 2024. Those efforts, when completed, mean horses used as therapy animals to help at-risk youth find hope and healing, can get back into the part of the pasture that had been damaged. Repair costs, which exceeded $15,000, were not taken from ranch funds but, instead, were provided by property owners. (Courtesy photos)

Volunteers work to clean up ranch

Volunteers spent a sunny Saturday, March 29, sprucing up Janice Faye’s Ranch on The Avenue, including replacing a fence and washout on the property that occurred during flooding in August 2024. Those efforts, when completed, mean horses used as therapy animals to help at-risk youth find hope and healing, can get back into the part of the pasture that had been damaged. Repair costs, which exceeded $15,000, were not taken from ranch funds but, instead, were provided by property owners. (Courtesy photos)


			
				                                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.


			
				                                Legendary coach Doyle Whitfield was inducted into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame Friday night during a ceremony at Southern Wayne High School. (Robert P. Taylor|Mountolivetribune.com)

Whitfield honored with NCHSAA Hall of Fame induction

Southern Wayne High School celebrated a monumental moment Friday night, honoring legendary coach Doyle Whitfield for his induction into the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Hall of Fame. The event, held between the JV and varsity baseball games, drew a crowd of former players, family, and community members eager to pay tribute to a coach who dedicated decades to shaping young athletes.


			
				                                Kinzely Sloan, (#11), pauses at third base during softball action against North Johnston Thursday. (Robert P. Taylor|Mountolivetribune.com)

North Johnston overwhelms Spring Creek in 14-1 victory

SEVEN SPRINGS — North Johnston asserted dominance early and never relented, securing a 14-1 victory over Spring Creek’s Lady Gators Thursday on. Despite a brief spark from the home team, the visiting Panthers controlled the game with aggressive baserunning and timely hitting.


			
				                                Spring Creek’s Rosa Cabrera Flores (#7) sprints downfield as a defender launches into the air, showing off incredible athleticism in pursuit of the play. (Robert Taylor|Mountolivetribune.com)

Gators lose hard-fought battle to N. Johnston

Spring Creek hosted North Johnston on a cool evening in Spring Creek. The weather was mild, with a slight breeze drifting across the field, making for ideal playing conditions. The field, though slightly damp from rainfall earlier in the week, was firm enough for quick passes and sharp movements.

Martin Alan Brown

WARSAW — Martin Alan Brown, 89, of Warsaw, died Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at Liberty Commons Rehabilitation in Benson. Alan was born in Duplin County on Oct. 8, 1935 to James Mason and Lucy Parker Brown.


			
				                                Carver Elementary second-grade students participated in a STEAM event in March. (Courtesy photos)

Carver Elementary students learn through hands-on experience

Carver Elementary second grade students participated in an outdoor STEAM event entitled “STEAM: Let’s Go Outside” March 28.


			
				                                Wayne STEM Academy’s future campus will allow for more educational opportunities for students. (Courtesy photo)

Group acquires Goldsboro property for Wayne STEM Academy’s future campus

GOLDSBORO — Legacy Impact Group (LIG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing educational development in rural communities across the Southeast, has officially acquired a significant property from Generation Church in Goldsboro. Formerly known as Summit Church and originally First Assembly of God, this property once housed the largest auditorium in Wayne County, seating over 1,000 people at its peak.

You know your God or you know your God?

“I know who my God and Jesus is, and I go to church!”

Repeat offender receives 7 years in prison for firearms possession and drug trafficking

RALEIGH — A Goldsboro man was sentenced Thursday to 5 years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Arraqib Hardy, 33, pled guilty to the charge on Dec. 16, 2024. Hardy received an additional 2 years in federal prison for committing this offense while on federal supervised release for the offenses of possessing a stolen firearm (aiding and abetting) and discharging a firearm in a school zone (aiding and abetting). Hardy received a total sentence of 7 years.