November 30, 2009 - FREMONT - The Gov. Charles B. Aycock Birthplace will be holding its annual Christmas Candlelight Tours program on today and again Dec. 3rd from 6:30-9 both nights. Tonight’s program will feature the Primitive Baptist Singers, and the Dec. 3rd program will feature a craft room for kids. On both nights, there will be a shadow play in the one-room school, costumed interpreters in the house telling visitors about 19th-century Christmas traditions, and a costumed interpreter demonstrating open-hearth cooking. Aycock Birthplace is located on US-117 North between Pikeville and Fremont.

November 30, 2009 - RALEIGH - As of December 1st, it is unlawful in North Carolina to text message or email while driving a motor vehicle. The new law prohibits sending or viewing text messages or emails. The law does not apply if your car is parked or for someone in law enforcement or emergency services in the performance of their duty. Other exceptions are the use of voice operated technology or viewing Caller-ID’s. Violators will have to pay a fine of $100 plus court costs. The General Assembly passed the law in June of this year.

November 30, 2009 - RALEIGH - The North Carolina Highway reports that the preliminary number of fatalities on North Carolina Highways over the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend was down compared to last year. As of 2 pm yesterday 12 people were killed in traffic collisions investigated by the highway patrol compared to 25 in 2008.  The holiday period began 6 pm Wednesday, November 25th and ended at midnight Sunday, November 29th. The number could increase as data is received. The Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend is the busiest travel period of the year.

November 30, 2009 - MOUNT OLIVE- Mount Olive College will hold its 56th fall commencement on Saturday, December 12. Graduation exercises are scheduled for 2:00 PM in the George and Annie Dail Kornegay Arena.

John Blackwell

The commencement speaker will be John Blackwell, dean of the Chapel at Kansas Wesleyan University. Blackwell also teaches in the departments of Religion and Philosophy, English, Behavioral Sciences, and the Honors Program.  For over 30 years Blackwell has been a speaker at numerous conferences and a retreat leader for people of all ages.  Blackwell received his education at San Diego State University, Claremont School of Theology, and Arizona State University, where he earned a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology.  John and his wife, Nancy, make their home in Salina, Kansas.  They have two grown children, Jaime and Dave; one daughter-in-law, Chynnene; and two bulldogs, Madeline Albright and Lady Astor.

Vaughn Purnell

Preceding graduation Mount Olive College will hold a baccalaureate service in Southern Bank Auditorium at 10:30 AM. Vaughn Purnell will be the speaker. Purnell has served as director of Mount Olive College at New Bern since October 2004, having previously held the title of assessment counselor. He entered the education field having worked in the corporate sector for 22 years in human resource consulting, both as an individual practitioner and as an employee and adjunct of several premier firms in the career transition industry. During those years, he was privileged to consult with numerous Fortune 500 companies. Purnell has also held pastorates in Presbyterian churches in DuBois, PA and Stamford, CT. He earned a BS in math from Grove City College and an M.Div. from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Purnell and his wife, Pat, have lived in New Bern since 1998. They have two married sons and five grandchildren.

Mount Olive College is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Jacksonville and Washington. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.

November 26, 2009 - GOLDSBORO - So what do you do with all that leftover turkey? …if you have any. We searched around the web and found several web sites that have leftover recipes. Of course, just having leftover turkey for sandwiches is probably the most common, but many make turkey salad in various styles. Here are some links we found, but there are many more you can find by searching.

Food TV -  AllRecipes -  About.Com -  Cooks.Com
These links provided as editorial content for convenience only a do not constitute any endorsement or assumption of ownership. Pages are copyright of their respective owners.

11/25/2009 - SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. – More than 300 Airmen from the 4th Fighter Wing attended an East Carolina University football game, as part of the school’s Military Appreciation Day, Nov. 21, 2009 in Greenville, N.C.

Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen from across North Carolina received free tickets to the match-up between the ECU Pirates and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers.

Pre-game activities included shout-outs from deployed area servicemembers and a fly-over from three 333rd Fighter Squadron F-15E Strike Eagles which received loud cheers from the crowd.

As part of military appreciation day, servicemembers received VIP seating and access to the sidelines.

As an added bonus, military family members also enjoyed the festivities. Master Sgt. Joe Cason, 4th Maintenance Operations Squadron first sergeant, brought his wife and children to the game and they really enjoyed it, he said.

“We love coming out to these (military appreciation days) because it really helps morale,” he said. “It’s a great feeling to know people really do understand and appreciate what military members do.”

At halftime, the marching band entertained the crowd by playing the songs for every armed service and spelled out their names in formations. The school recognized Col. Mark D, Kelly, 4th Fighter Wing commander, along with leaders from other North Carolina military installations for their dedication and service.

University officials contributed ECU flags to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Ft. Bragg Army Post to display in their new wounded warrior barracks for Soldiers and Marines returning from overseas contingency operations with injuries. A local company also donated a check towards recreation activities at the new facilities.

ECU added the finishing touch to the day by beating UAB, 37 to 21.

——————

Airman 1st Class Marissa Tucker
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

F-15E Stock Photo

November 26, 2009 - GOLDSBORO - Results of the Accident Investigation Board from the July 18th crash of an F-15 E Strike Eagle in Afghanistan will be released during an Air Combat Command teleconference schedule for December 1st.   Accident Investigation Board President Brig. Gen. H.D. Polumbo will make a statement regarding his decision and will answer questions from media. The SJAFB community lost two airmen in the crash: Captains Mark “Pitbull” McDowell and Thomas “Lag” Gramith.

Cobb

Thompson

November 25, 2009 - GOLDSBORO - Reginald James Cobb and Kendrick Melvin Martez- Thompson, both of Dudley, are facing charges of Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon. Around 3:30 pm Tuesday, Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a victim being robbed of cash, at gunpoint, in the vicinity of Durham Lake Road and Shirley Drive in Dudley. Reginald Cobb was armed with a shotgun and discharged the shotgun at the victim. The victim was able to escape to safety and was not injured. Quick response of the Deputies resulted in the near immediate apprehension of suspect Kendrick Thompson near the scene. During the investigation, Cobb’s identity was confirmed and he was located and apprehended a short time later. The investigation showed that both suspects planned the robbery and were charged by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and placed under a $ 200,000 bond each. No further arrest are foreseen in this incident. Part of the money stolen has been recovered. Mount Olive Police Department Chief Ralph Schroeder and Major Brian Rhodes also responded to the scene to assist.

November 25, 2009 - GOLDSBORO - Friday is noted as being the busiest shopping day of the year – known as Black Friday. Many stores will open their doors very early, and at some stores, customers will be waiting for the doors to open so they can get that special priced item. Friday will also be a day that thieves will be out, so for your safety and security of your items, be sure to keep your car locked at all times and place any items in your trunk or out of sight. Seeing valuables in a car may give a potential thief more reason to break into YOUR vehicle.

Mack Recardo Lewis

November 25, 2009 - GOLDSBORO - Mack Recardo Lewis is under a $1,005,000 dollar bond after being arrested and charged with 1st Degree Burglary, Attempted Murder, and Probation Violation. On November 9^th, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office received a frantic 911 call stating a residence was broken into and the occupant was in dire need of medical attention. Deputies with D Shift of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division responded. Deputy Randy Thompson made entry and secured the residence for Wayne County Emergency services. The victim was transported to Wayne Memorial Hospital.   Det. Sgt. Rick Farfour as well as Det. Sgt’s R. D. Chunn, L. N. Mitchell, and R. Winders responded to process the crime scene. Investigation revealed Mack R. Lewis had broken into the residence which was occupied by an adult and five small children. Det. Sgt. Farfour obtained warrants on Lewis who was entered into NCIC and surrounding counties were notified that Lewis, a convicted sex offender,  was wanted on Wayne County charges. The United States Marshal Service assisted the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and notified Det. Sgt. Farfour yesterday that Lewis was located in Richmond County, North Carolina and was in custody. Lewis was brought back to Wayne County and processed. The Minor children were not hurt in the incident. The victim has been treated and released from Wayne Memorial Hospital.