News

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

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.

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 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.

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 an outdoor STEAM event entitled “STEAM: Let’s Go Outside” March 28.

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.

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

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.