Dr. Byrd

June 30, 2009 - MOUNT OLIVE

- Today, Dr. J. William Byrd will step down from his role as the third president of Mount Olive College.  During his 14 years in this role, Dr. Byrd has led the transformation of the institution that began with the development of the College’s nontraditional programming in 1993. He is credited with improving the College’s financial strength and directed the most comprehensive strategic planning effort in the school’s 58-year history. 

During the years with Dr. Byrd at the helm, Mount Olive College has made many advances including growing to serve students in six locations in Eastern North Carolina (soon to be seven with the addition of Jacksonville), expanding the curriculum and the enrollment, increasing the endowment and adding new facilities totaling more than 175,000 square feet of space. Under Dr. Byrd’s leadership, the College has made over $50 million dollars in capital improvements, including the addition of a state-of-the-art communication’s facility, a Wellness Center, a new academic complex, several additions to the College’s athletics facilities including a new baseball field house, a new softball field and dugouts, a soccer field and new tennis courts and this fall the opening of a new residential housing complex. Dr. Byrd has also led the institution through a comprehensive organizational restructuring that included strengthening of the College’s Mission and focusing on core values through the College Covenant.

Donald R Watson

 June 30, 2009 - GOLDSBORO - On June 19^th, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office received a report in Northern Wayne County where a known suspect discharged a firearm into a residence.  The suspect was identified by the victim.  Donald Ray Watson was arrested with out incident and placed in Wayne County Jail with a $5000.00 secured bond.

June 30, 2009 - RALEIGH - The N.C. Department of Transportation continues to see an increase in the number of roadside littering incidents reported through its Swat-A-Litterbug program in 2009. More than 5,100 littering reports were made from Jan. 1st through June 11th, which is nearly 2,000 more reports than were submitted during the same time period last year. NCDOT’s Office of Beautification Programs and the N.C. State Highway Patrol administer the Swat-A-Litterbug program.

Motorists seen littering are sent a letter signed by the colonel of the State Highway Patrol, which notifies recipients they were observed littering and informs them that littering is an illegal and fineable offense. Fines for littering range from $250 to $2,000 and can include a point on the offender’s driver license, as well as community service work. Information required to make a report includes the vehicle’s license plate number, date and time of the incident, street name, city, county and type of littering offense observed. A report can be submitted through the mail, over the phone or online through the Office of Beautification Programs’ Swat-A-Litterbug Web site.

For more information about the department’s anti litter efforts or to make a Swat-A-Litterbug report online, visit www.ncdot.gov/~beautification . To call in a Swat-A-Litterbug report, contact the NCDOT Customer Service Office at 1-877-DOT-4YOU. Mail-in Swat-A-Litterbug cards can be obtained by calling the Office of Beautification Programs at 1-800-331-5864.

June 30, 2009 - RALEIGH - The 12th annual Community College Art Exhibition has officially opened for viewing at the Caswell Building in downtown Raleigh, and for the first time a virtual tour of the exhibition is available on the NC Community Colleges website. The exhibition began in 1998, when students, faculty, staff and alumni of the state’s community colleges were asked to submit artwork for display in the system office. Over 1500 pieces were submitted for entry into the 2009 exhibition, with 135 pieces being chosen for display. Fortyfive community colleges are featured in the current exhibition which includes quilts, pottery, photography, paintings, drawings, furniture, baskets and mixed media. A virtual tour of the exhibition is available online at www.nccommunitycolleges.edu.

June 29, 2009 - GOLDSBORO - Berkeley Mall will be having fireworks on Friday, July 3rd at 9:00 pm.  The event is free, but come early and pick out your favorite spot to watch. Again, that’s Fireworks at Berkeley Mall on Friday, July 3rd at 9:00 pm.

June 29, 2009 - GOLDSBORO - If you’re looking for a night of clean fun and entertainment, you’ll find it at the Paramount Theatre on July 4th starting at 6:00 pm.  Marcus Wiley, DL Henry, and Mike Goodwin will share the Paramount Theatre stage.  Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.  You can purchase tickets in advance at Percy Royall’s Barber Shop on Center Street or by contacting Michelle Bryant at 919-330-3840.

June 29, 2009 - GOLDSBORO - Gov. Perdue has announced that the U.S. Energy Department has approved North Carolina’s 75.9 million dollar Energy Plan to improve energy efficiency, promote greater use of renewable energy resources, and create more green jobs.  The program will be funded through the state’s share of federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.  North Carolina is significantly increasing its investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy, building its sustainable energy economy and workforce, and promoting innovation and development of new energy technologies and resources.

June 29, 2009 - RALEIGH - Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin has announced the arrest of Massey Ray Bowser of Winston Salem, as well as Matthew Ray Booth and Clarice Booth of Weldon in what is commonly called an “owner give-up.”

According to the investigation, Bowser filed a police report in Roanoke Rapids in February claiming that his Lincoln LS vehicle had been stolen from his home. However before the claim for more than $8,000 to his insurance company was processed, a hunter found the vehicle in Nash County, in a wooded area of some property belonging to Bowser’s family. Bowser did receive $561 for a rental car. Tires, rims, and a battery all worth about $1,000 were missing from the car. 

Bowser was charged with one felony count of obtaining property by false pretense and one count of fraudulent disposal of security. His father, Matthew Booth, is charged with one count of felony conspiracy and one misdemeanor count of conspiracy. Bower’s mother, Clarice Booth, is charged with one count of misdemeanor conspiracy. Other arrests are pending. 

June 26, 2009 - GOLDSBORO - Liquid Pleasure will be the next band for the popular Center Street Jam series in downtown Goldsboro on July 9th.  The free DGDC event occurs every two weeks throughout the summer.  Spare Change, The Holiday Band, and Legends of Beach will finish out the series ending in August.  For more information about these and other downtown events, visit www.dgdc.org.

June 26, 2009 - GOLDSBORO - Visitors to the Aycock Birthplace can make good memories on Independence Day. The restoration of the fire-damaged farmhouse is nearly complete, and that part of the state historic site will soon be open for public viewing again. Like other state historic sites, the Aycock Birthplace will be closed Friday, July 3, but open to visitors on Saturday, July 4.  Furniture pieces that were salvaged from the fire are being placed in the farmhouse after being cleaned by staff using special procedures or by the Historic Sites Conservator, Jennifer French, in Durham.  Professional textile conservators were called in to help gently clean and restore fabrics. Tours of the governor’s family home will resume in late July. Anyone wanting to aid in the home’s restoration may do so by contributing to the Aycock Birthplace Recovery and Restoration Fund. Contributions may be sent to Gov. Charles B. Aycock Birthplace, P.O. Box 207, Fremont, NC 27830. For more information about North Carolina historic sites, visit www.ncculture.com.