February 26, 2010 - VANCOUVER, CANADA - The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver are coming to an end soon, and as of yesterday afternoon, the United States leads in the metal count with 28. Germany is a close 2nd with 26, followed by Norway with 19 and Canada with 15. The closing ceremony is scheduled for this Sunday evening. The 2012 Summer Olympic Games are scheduled to take place in London from July 27 to August 12. There will be an estimated 12,500 athletes participating in 300 events representing 205 nations. Great Brittan won the bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics over Paris, France; Madrid Spain; New York City in the US; and Moscow, Russia.

February 26, 2010 - CARY - North Carolina now has forty-three new troopers that graduated on yesterday from the 126th Basic School of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.  The new troopers were sworn in during ceremonies at the Cary Church of God in Cary.

Colonel W. Randy Glover, Patrol Commander, said, “I am extremely proud of these young men who have chosen to represent the Highway Patrol. As new Troopers, they will only strengthen the rich tradition of the Patrol by their commitment to maintaining the public’s trust and accountability through competent and thorough service.”

Reuben F. Young, secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety of which the Highway Patrol is a division remarked, “We are proud to welcome the 126th Basic School graduates as members of one of the nation’s finest law enforcement organizations. They have joined an elite organization that has built its reputation on three key characteristics; Professionalism, Integrity and Loyalty.”

Here is a list of the graduates…

Wise

February 24, 2010 - GOLDSBORO - Twenty-Six year-old Adam Dwight Wise of Mount Olive is facing multiple charges after an investigation by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. Tuesday, the Sheriff’s Office received a report of breaking and entering a motor vehicle that occurred at a residence on Falling Creek Church Road. Listed as stolen were items with a total of $1,100.00.  Wise was charged with Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle, Felony Larceny, and Possession of Stolen Goods. Bond was set at $15,000.

February 24, 2010 - GOLDSBORO - The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and the Pikeville Police Department are investigating 4 armed robberies that have occurred in Wayne County since November 27th. On that date, the Dollar General located on US 117 Hwy, Goldsboro was robbed by two black males armed with handguns. This same store was robbed again on February 23rd at approximately 8:50p.m. by 3 Black males. On December 13^th, the Dollar General located in Pikeville was robbed by 3 black males. On January 25^th, the Dollar General located at US 13 Hwy North, Goldsboro was robbed by 3 black males. In all of the incidents the suspects were dressed in dark clothing and their faces were partially obscured by hoodies and bandanas. In all of the incidents the suspects were armed with firearms.  At this time it is believed that the robberies are related. Wayne County Sheriff Detective Sergeant Mike Reid and Ron Baker, and Pikeville Police Dept. Sergeant Eva Scott are the investigating officers. Anyone with information that may be pertinent to these investigations is requested to contact the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office at 919-731-1481 or Goldsboro/Wayne County Crime Stoppers at 919-735-2255.

February 24, 2010 - RALEIGH - North Carolina has received a $9.3 million grant to improve the quality of health care delivered to children.  The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services was the lead applicant for this competitive grant and worked closely with a coalition of children’s health leaders in the state.  Funding will be used to develop technology that tracks and measures quality of care for children. North Carolina is one of only ten lead states announced as part of the $100 million grant program under the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009. North Carolina will apply its $9.3 million over five years toward three initiatives for children who receive health care through N.C. Medicaid or through N.C. Health Choice, which serves children whose families’ incomes are too high for Medicaid eligibility

February 24, 2010 - RALEIGH – Twelve people in Robeson County have been arrested on 93 total felony drug and drug distribution charges following a two-year investigation by agents with the N.C. Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement.

Authorities seized cocaine, marijuana, prescription drugs, drug paraphernalia, three rifles/shotguns, four handguns and more than $8,000 in U.S currency.

“ALE agents had received multiple complaints from the community about the criminal activity taking place at these two residences,” ALE Special Agent Jimmy Miller said.  “It was quickly determined that the established network was a primary source for cocaine distribution in the Pembroke area of Robeson County.  More arrests are expected.”

ALE agents, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, State Highway Patrol and the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms served four search warrants on Feb. 19 at two mobile homes: Maurice Childs and Evelyn Locklear at 114 Candy Park Road, Pembroke, and Thomas Earl Smith and Sheila Ann Barton at 112 Hiawatha Road, Pembroke.

“We appreciate the cooperation we received from the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, ATF and the Highway Patrol,” said David Williams, special agent in charge of ALE district office in Fayetteville.  “It takes a joint effort between agencies for an operation as large as this to run smoothly and efficiently.”

Charged in raid were:

Maurice Childs, 25, Lot 10 Candy Park Road, Mobile Home Park, Pembroke charged with continuing a criminal enterprise, two counts of possess with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, two counts of sell and deliver cocaine and conspiracy to sell and deliver cocaine.

Evelyn Locklear, 66, Lot 8 Candy Park Road, Mobile Home Park, Pembroke charged with four counts of possess with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, four counts of sell and deliver cocaine, two counts of conspiracy to sell and deliver cocaine and one count of maintaining a drug dwelling.

Thomas Earl Smith, 28, 112 Hiwatha Road, Lot 8, Les Mobile Home Park, Pembroke charged with continuing a criminal enterprise, two counts of maintaining a drug dwelling, possession of cocaine, two counts of conspiracy to sell and deliver cocaine, two counts of manufacture cocaine, felony possession of marijuana, six counts of selling and delivering cocaine, four counts of possess with intent to sell and deliver cocaine and felon in possession of a firearm.

Sheila Ann Barton, 47, 12 Hiwatha Road, Lot 4, Les Mobile Home Park, Pembroke charged with continuing a criminal enterprise, three counts of possess with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, three counts of sell and deliver marijuana, three counts of manufacture marijuana.

Granyelle Maynor, 19, 12 Hiwatha Road, Lot 8, Les Mobile Home Park, Pembroke charged with continuing a criminal enterprise, four counts of conspiracy to sell and deliver cocaine, possess with intent to sell and deliver cocaine and deliver cocaine.

Kendrick Bullard, 34, 297 Elias Road, Pembroke charged with possess with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, sell and deliver cocaine, maintaining a drug dwelling.

Roy Norman Trae Locklear, 23, 645 Onnie and Joe Road, Maxton charged with three counts of possess with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, three counts of sell and deliver cocaine and maintaining a drug vehicle.

Jeffery Randal Brooks Jr., 29, 367 Candy Park Road, Pembroke charged with possess with intent to sell and deliver a counterfeit controlled substance and sell and deliver a counterfeit controlled substance.

Margaret Johnson, 49, 739 A Roberts Ave., Strickland Heights, Pembroke charged with possess with intent to sell and deliver cocaine and sell and deliver cocaine.

Christopher McGirt, 25, 25 Big Horn Drive, Lumberton, charged with continuing a criminal enterprise, possess with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, sell and deliver marijuana and manufacture of marijuana.

Chadwick Lowery, 31, 4098 Moss Neck Road, Pembroke charged with conspiracy to sell and deliver cocaine.

Stephen Chalmers Trent Lowry, 18, 476 St. Anna Road, Pembroke charged with two counts with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, two counts of sell and deliver cocaine and  one count of continuing criminal enterprise.

ALE is a division of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety.  Its agents have authority to arrest and take investigatory action for any criminal offense.  Their primary responsibility is the enforcement of the ABC laws and drug laws.

February 23, 2010 - MOUNT OLIVE - The second annual Mount Olive College Choral Festival was held this past Friday, February 19th.  Over 160 students representing 5 high schools in Wayne and Lenoir Counties participated in the half-day event on the campus of Mount Olive College.  Each choir preformed a selection and was critiqued by Guest Clinician Carol Riggs with the North Carolina Honors Chorus.  Riggs also did a workshop with each choral group. Dr. Alan Armstrong, Chair of the Mount Olive College Music Department said, “We received many positive comments from the high school choral directors praising the event.” The event is the only one of its kind in Wayne County

February 23, 2010 - CLAYTON - Northeast Foods Inc., a national contract baker for the commercial and fast-food industries, will open a new bakery operation in Johnston County.  The company plans to invest $25.4 million creating jobs during the next two years in Clayton.  The new bakery operation is made possible in part by a $350,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.

2010 WCLDA Scholarship Winners

February 22, 2010 - GOLDSBORO - The Wayne County Livestock Development Association awarded six scholarships tonight at its annual meeting at the Wayne Center in Goldsboro.  The scholarship winners for 2010 are…

Kylie Glisson            $2400   Rosewood           Animal Science
Kelsey Wolfe            $2400   Rosewood          Biology
Chelsea Outlaw       $1200    SC                       Education
Elizabeth Price        $2400    SC                       Nursing
Holly Stevens           $2400    SW                      Communication or Business
Hannah Grantham   $2400    SW                       Art Education

February 22, 2010 - BENTONVILLE - The 145th Bentonville Anniversary Reenactment will be held March 20th and 21st. Thousands of Civil War re-enactors and spectators will converge on Bentonville Battlefield to reenact the Battle of Bentonville, fought March 19^th through 21st, 1865. In that struggle, 20,000 Confederate soldiers engaged 60,000 Union troops in the largest battle ever fought on North Carolina soil.