Thirty-four-year-old Christopher Earl Radford of Lucama is facing multiple charges related to a larceny from CSX Railroad. According to information from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, railroad personnel reported six metal I-beams valued at $5,000 were stolen from their property at Aycock Acres Road. A check with recycle yards in the area identified where the I-beams were sold. Radford was identified as the seller on three different transactions from July 24th until July 26th. Four of the I-beams were recovered. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are expected. The report of this theft and assistance in the arrest were aided by information provided by a citizen observing suspicious activity in the area and reporting it to the CSX Railroad officials. Radford was charged with 3 counts of Felony Larceny, Felony Possession of Stolen Goods or Property; Felony Obtaining Property by False Pretense, and Misdemeanor Trespass on Railroad Right-of Way. His bond was set at $2,500.

July 27, 2010 - GOLDSBORO - Juan Hernandez Sanders and Brandon Christopher Epps are facing multiple charges relating to break-ins in the Buck Swamp Road area north of Goldsboro. The arrests occurred after a traffic stop in Alamance County where the suspects were driving a Chevy Tahoe reported stolen from Plantation Road. The suspects were also charged in connection with nine other incidents occurring on Plantation Road, Livingston Drive, Lake Ridge Drive, and Ashby Lane. Their charges include one count each of 1st Degree Burglary, Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, 10-counts of Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle, two counts each of Felonious Larceny, Felonious Possession of Stolen Goods, and four counts each of Misdemeanor Larceny and Misdemeanor Possession of Stolen Goods. Other charges are pending as the investigation continues. At the time of this release, no bond information was available.

(Information from Goldsboro Police Dept. Press Release)

Goldsboro Police are asking for information about a shooting yesterday on West Holly Street. Two victims, 18-year-old Jonathan Keys and 27-year-old Robin Monroe were both shot while they were riding inside a vehicle. Both victims were transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital for treatment. Mr. Keys was flown by helicopter to Pitt Memorial Hospital, and Mr. Monroe was treated at Wayne Memorial Hospital and released. The investigation is continuing and anyone with information is asked to call Inv. Karen Zwirblia at 919-580-4242 or Crime Stoppers at 919-735-2255.

July 27, 2010 - LONDON - BP’s CEO is stepping down. In an announcement today, BP said that, by mutual agreement with the BP board, Tony Hayward is to step down as group chief executive with effect from October 1st. He will be succeeded as of that date by fellow executive director Robert Dudley. The 54-year-old Dudley is a main board director of BP and currently runs the recently-established unit responsible for clean-up operations and compensation programs in the Gulf of Mexico. He joined BP from Amoco after the merger of the two companies in 1998. He was president and CEO of BP’s Russian joint venture, TNK-BP, until 2008. BP said that under the terms of his contract, Hayward would receive a year’s salary in lieu of notice, amounting to £1.045 million.

July 26, 2010 - GOLDSBORO - Six nurses from Wayne Memorial Hospital have been named to this year’s Great 100, a prestigious list of nurses who have been nominated by their peers and then screened by a statewide professional standards committee. All 100 nurses will be officially recognized at a black tie gala September 18 at the Greensboro Coliseum.  Nurses from Wayne Memorial are:

Jana Blackman, health promotions
Jeff Brogneaux, nursing informatics
Valerie Davis, surgery
Bonnie Sisko, cardio-pulm rehab
Donna Wimberly, nursing administration
Karen Yarbrough, pediatrics

“We are very proud of them for all that they do for patients here at Wayne Memorial Hospital - always showing compassion and professionalism,” says Shirley Harkey, vice president of patient services. Wayne Memorial Hospital has had several nurses honored by the Great 100 and averages two or three a year. “The fact that we always have nurses included speaks very well for the quality and dedication represented throughout our entire nursing staff.”

The Great 100, Inc. is a grassroots peer recognition organization honoring the nursing profession in North Carolina by:
*         Recognizing the importance of registered nurses in diverse practice settings
*         Positively impacting the image of nursing and nursing as a profession
*         Acknowledging 100 North Carolina nurses annually who demonstrate excellence in practice and commitment to their profession
*         Contributing funds for scholarships for Registered Nurse education

July 26, 2010 - RALEIGH - Department of Defense is spending more in North Carolina. Gov. Bev Perdue, the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC), and the North Carolina Military Foundation (Foundation) yesterday announced that Department of Defense spending in North Carolina grew by 10 percent and exceeded $4.0 billion in federal fiscal year 2009 – an increase of $363.8 million over procurement in the state in 2008. For more information on Department of Defense spending and the North Carolina Military Business Center, please visit www.ncmbc.us web site.

(Gov. Perdue Press Release)

July 26, 2010 - RALEIGH - North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents have charged two people in connection with the Guilford County traffic deaths of three people back on Feb. 13th. 51-year-old Theresa Bruckner and 22-year-old Kyle Bruckner, both of Brown Summit, have each been charged with three counts of aiding and abetting a person less than 21 years of age in possessing an alcoholic beverage. The three people who died in the wreck on Fairgrove Church Road near N.C. Highway 150 in Guilford County were 18-year-old Sascha Adela Hoffman of Whitsett; 23-year-old Scott Wayne Bedwell of Greensboro; and 18-year-old Taylor Leigh McCaskill of Brown Summit. ALE Special Agent Eric Hill, the lead investigator in the case, said that before the accident, 20-year-old Amanda Sperduti of Winston-Salem, Hoffman, and McCaskill were allegedly consuming alcoholic beverages at the Bruckner’s home. Sperduti, Hoffman, McCaskill, and Bedwell left the residence and wrecked just before 11pm. Sperduti, who survived the wreck with serious injuries, was charged with three counts of felony death by motor vehicle, driving while intoxicated as a provisional licensee, exceeding safe speed and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hoffman, McCaskill and Bedwell were pronounced dead at the scene.

(NC ALE Press Release)

July 23, 2010 - GOLDSBORO - As a result of an investigation by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, David James Porter, Jr. is charged with Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. On July 12th, a 20 year old girl from the Eureka community filed a report with the Wayne County Sheriff’s office reporting that she was robbed in her driveway at gun point. The victim reported that she had left the Wal-Mart on Spence Ave. prior to arriving at her residence and a vehicle followed her home. The suspect was described as a black male in his mid twenties wearing dark clothes and a bandana covering his face. The suspect, before fleeing, fired one shot but did not injure the victim. A person of interest was developed shortly after the robbery. Last Friday, Detective Lieutenant Carl Lancaster and Detective Sergeant Mike Kabler went to the suspect’s residence on E. Elm St. and transported him to the sheriff’s office for questioning. The suspect was arrested and transported to the Wayne County Jail where he was placed under a $50,000 secured bond. This investigation remains active and other suspects may be arrested.

July 22, 2010 - RALEIGH -  More than 200 farmers, food manufacturers and retailers, and government scientists will gather Tuesday, Aug. 10, at the State Fairgrounds to learn more about food safety.

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler’s sixth annual Food Safety Forum will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Expo Center.

Keynote speakers will be Dr. Jim Gorny, senior food safety advisor at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Dr. Robert Tauxe, deputy director of foodborne, waterborne and environmental diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Dr. Dan Engeljohn, a food protection administrator with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Their respective topics will be produce safety, food safety and animal production, and investigations of foodborne disease outbreaks.

In addition, a panel of experts from state government and industry will discuss integrated food systems in North Carolina. And Dr. Ben Chapman of N.C. State University will talk about effective food safety messages. U.S. Reps. Howard Coble and Brad Miller also are scheduled to speak.

Troxler will close out the forum with a speech about food safety in North Carolina.

The agenda is available online at www.ncagr.gov/ncfoodsafetyforum.

Admission to the forum is free and lunch will be provided, but registration is required. To register, visitwww.ncagr.gov/ncfoodsafetyforum or contact Christina Waggett at (919) 733-7125, ext. 255. Registration deadline is Aug. 1.

The forum is sponsored in part by the N.C. Rural Center’s Agricultural Advancement Consortium.