Friday, August 22, 2025

			
				                                The Mount Olive Exchange presented a $250 donation to All the King’s Children Tuesday night, July 15, during its annual officers installation social at Ribeyes Steakhouse. Front row, left to right, are All the King’s Children board members Michelle Holland and Robin Smith (vice chair); founder Marcia Whitley; and club members Belinda Parent, Brittany Parent and Hazel and Steve Wiggins. Back row, left to right, are club members Dwayne McKay, James Kornegay, Gary Barefoot, Bryant Gibson, Susan Price and Lynwood Herring. (Steve Herring|mountolivetribune.com)

Mount Olive Exchange Club makes donations, installs new officers

The Mount Olive Exchange Club installed new officers Tuesday night, July 15, also using the occasion to continue its support of the community by making donations to several nonprofits.

Warsaw Police seek public’s help identifying suspects in multi-county lottery ticket and gift card...

WARSAW — The Warsaw Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying three suspects involved in a series of coordinated thefts of lottery tickets and prepaid Visa gift cards across multiple jurisdictions in Eastern North Carolina.

Local foundation, coalition to host 13th annual Purple Heart luncheon

The Goldsboro/Wayne Purple Heart Luncheon Committee will honor Goldsboro/Wayne Purple Heart recipients and their Guest Aug 2 at 11 a.m. at the Maxwell Convention Center, located at 3114 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro.


			
				                                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 approximately 450 people attending Friday’s Fourth of July celebration at Westbrook Park ranged in age from six months to 91 years — one person was even celebrating their July 4 birthday — and there were even visitors from as far away as Texas, Idaho and Thailand.


			
				                                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...

The Mount Olive Exchange Club and Rotary Club are partnering this year to co-host the town’s annual old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration from 5 to 7 p.m. this Friday in 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...

The Mt. Olive Pickle Co. Pickle Parlor grand opening was reminiscent of the N.C. Pickle Festival’s pickle-packing challenge — only instead of seeing how many pickles can be packed into a jar, it was seeing how many people could be packed into the new store.


			
				                                Faison Improvement Group President Andrew Taylor, left, and Faison Executive Administrator Jimmy Tyndall demonstrate removing one of the plain bricks surrounding the William Thornton monument and replacing it with a new, engraved brick. Personalized bricks are available for a $100 or $125 tax-deductible donation. For more information, go to FIG’s Facebook page or contact Jimmy Tyndall at jtyndall@faisonnc.org. (Kathy Grant Westbrook|mountolivetribune.com)

Personalized bricks will enhance monument courtyard, raise money for local nonprofit

FAISON — Last November, on the site of the former Faison School, the town dedicated a stately, black granite monument to the school and to one of its most distinguished graduates, Dr. William E. Thornton, who was born and raised in Faison, before going on to become the state’s first astronaut; he is also buried in the town’s historic cemetery. Now, members of the public are being invited to add personal tributes by purchasing custom-inscribed bricks to be placed in the courtyard where monument sits.


			
				                                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

The intersection of N.C. 55 and Secondary Road 1744 (Indian Springs Road/Old Seven Springs Road) is scheduled to be converted 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.


			
				                                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

Isaiah Whitfield, 14, had to stretch to hold his phone high enough over his head to get just the right angle of his parents, Michael and Fransha Whitfield, as they posed in front of a banner celebrating Juneteenth.


			
				                                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.