April 30, 2010 - GOLDSBORO - The Goldsboro Jaycees are currently accepting nominations for outstanding citizens in several categories.   The nominees selected will be recognized locally at the Jaycees Annual Distinguished Service Awards Banquet in May.

Nominees for Outstanding North Carolinian should demonstrate exemplary qualities of leadership during their lifetime and be between the ages of 21 and 40 as of January 1, 2010. Nominees for Outstanding Teenager must currently be a senior in high school, have a GPA of 3.0 or greater, and exemplify a well-rounded youth in scholarship, leadership, and community service.  The Outstanding Educator must be a professional educator employed in grades kindergarten through 12^th grade and be between the ages of 21 and 40 as of January 1, 2010.  The Outstanding Farmer must be an actual farm operator deriving 2/3 of his/her income through farming and be between the ages of 21 and 40 as of January 1, 2010.  Nominees for Outstanding Public Servant must serve as Correctional Officers, Firefighters, Law Enforcement Officers or Rescuers who have achieved success and leadership in their professions and are currently active in the community through civic work and be between the ages of 21 and 40 as of January 1, 2010.  The Outstanding Boss of the Year is presented to a Jaycee employer who has given meritorious service to his/her family, church, community, nation and the Jaycee organization. The Outstanding Senior Citizen award is to recognize senior citizens who are over the age of 60 and have shown exemplary qualities of leadership during their lifetime.

Applications may be picked up at the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce at 308 North William Street.  The deadline for applications to be submitted is May 19, 2010.  Applications should be mailed to the Goldsboro Jaycees, P.O. Box 463, Goldsboro NC 27533.  Please contact Brandon Whitfield at dsa.banquet@gmail.com, or (919) 440-5913, email preferred, should you have any questions.

April 30, 2010 - GOLDSBORO - A 15 year old juvenile has been charged and transported to Pitt Detention Center in Greenville in connection to several break-ins in the downtown area occurring during the past two months. Due to age, the juvenile’s name was not released. After an ongoing investigation conducted by the Goldsboro Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, approximately $7,000 worth of stolen property was recovered. Any person with further information on the break-ins is asked to call Investigator Dwayne Bevell at 919-580-4218 or Crimestoppers at 919-735-2255.

April 30, 2010 - GOLDSBORO - The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and the Goldsboro Police Department have made several arrests on persons they believe are responsible for the series of armed robberies that have occurred in Wayne County since November 2009. The robbers originally targeted Dollar General Stores, then moved to similar stores along with restaurants and convenience stores. The Sheriff’s Office and the Police Department worked together as a task force when it became apparent that the county and the city robberies were similar. Most of the robberies consisted of two to three black males entering the store dressed in black with bandanas covering part of their face. Often times they would force the clerk to open the safe.

Detectives from both agencies have worked diligently on these cases from the beginning. A real break came for the Detectives when a robbery occurred at the Family Dollar in Princeton, North Carolina. A citizen was driving in the area at the time of the robbery. The citizen saw a suspicious vehicle leave the store. He was able to follow the vehicle and obtain the license plate which he turned over to law enforcement. Wayne County Sheriff’s Patrol Officers then set up surveillance on the address the vehicle was registered to. When the vehicle returned to the address, Detectives were notified to continue the investigation. This led the Detectives to some suspects, then through further investigation, they were able to obtain other suspects. The investigation showed that some of the same persons were responsible for robberies in Princeton, North Carolina and Wilson North Carolina. Wayne County authorities passed this information on to the proper authorities who charged for those crimes.

Sheriff C. A. Winders, states, “I would like to express my appreciation to the Detectives from both agencies for the way they worked together sharing information in all of these case. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and the Goldsboro Police Department have a great working relationship which proves very beneficial when there are similar cases that are being investigated. The Detectives along with other personnel from the agencies have put in many hours working these cases. Sheriff’s Office personnel from all divisions of the Sheriff’s office have worked approximately 800 hours of overtime on these cases in surveillance alone. The Sheriff’s Office ran surveillance on prospective targeted stores for approximately 5 weeks. I especially want to express my appreciation to the Princeton, North Carolina citizen for getting involved. Often times it is citizen’s involvement that gives Law Enforcement that one little bit of extra information needed to provide closure to an investigation.”

The following subjects have been arrested and charged as stated:

Anthony David Brown

406 Quail Drive

Goldsboro, NC

B/M

DOB-08/18/1988

Brown was charged by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon          (6 counts)

Attempted Robbery                                      (1 count)

Second Degree Kidnapping                       (3 counts)

Brown was charged by the Goldsboro Police Department with

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon          (2 counts)

Second Degree Kidnapping                       (1 count)

Brown was charged by Princeton Police Department with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon          (1 count)

Brown was charged by Wilson Police Department with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon                                  (1 count)

Conspiracy to Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon         (1 count)

Brown is in the Wayne County Detention Center under a secured bond of $1,130,000.00.

Malcolm Jamal Artis

411 Hollowell Street

Goldsboro, NC

B/M

DOB-1/14/1990

Artis was charged by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon          (2 counts)

Second Degree Kidnapping                       (2 counts)

Artis was charged by the Goldsboro Police Department with:

Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon         (1 count)

Second Degree Kidnapping                       (1 count)

Artis was charged by the Wilson Police Department with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon:                                 (1 count)

Aid and Abet Armed Robbery                                             (1 count)

Conspiracy to Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon (2 counts)

Artis is in the Wayne County Detention Center under a $465,000.00 Secured bond.

Antonio Deonte Jones

215 Booker Street

Pikeville, NC

B/M

DOB-08/09/1985

Jones was charged by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon          (1 count)

Second Degree Kidnapping                       (1 count)

Jones was charged by the Goldsboro Police Department with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon          (1 count)

Jones was charged by the Wilson Police Department with:

Conspiracy to Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon         (3 counts)

Aid and Abet Armed Robbery                                             (3 counts)

Jones is being held in the Wayne County Detention Center under a $450,000.00 Secured Bond.

Ivory Javaughntae Harris

1902 Elton Drive

Goldsboro, NC

B/M

DOB-06/30/1991

Harris was charged by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon          (1 count)

Second Degree Kidnapping                       (1 count)

Harris was charged by the Goldsboro Police Department with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon          (2 counts)

Harris was charged by Wilson Police Department with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon                                  (2 counts)

Conspiracy to Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon         (3 counts)

Attempted Common Law Robbery                         (1 count)

Harris is being held in the Wayne county Detention Center under a $400,000.00 Secured bond.

Darius Ramon Edwards

402 S. Andrews Avenue

Goldsboro, NC

B/M

DOB-02/20/1994

Edwards has been charged by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon          (1 count)

Second Degree Kidnapping                       (1 count)

Edwards is being held in the Wayne County Detention Center under a $100,000.00 Secured Bond.

Derric Lyneal Dove Jr.

507 Quail Drive

Goldsboro, NC

B/M

DOB-12/15/1989

Dove has been charged by the Wayne County Sheriff’ Office with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon          (1 count)

Second Degree Kidnapping                       (1 count)

Dove has been charged by the Princeton Police Department with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon          (1 count)

Dove is being held in the Wayne County Detention Center under a $225.000.00 Secured Bond

Brandon Daquan Gatling

906 N. Audubon Avenue

Goldsboro, NC

B/m

DOB-12/4/1993

Gatling has been charged by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office with:

Robbery With a Dangerous Weapon         (1 count)

Second Degree Kidanpping                       (1 count)

Gatling is being held in the Wayne County Detention Center under a $100,000.00 Secured Bond.

Magdalene Patricia Lane

103 Rachel Drive

Goldsboro, NC

W/F

Dob-02/18/1992

Lane was charge by Princeton Police Department with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon          (1 count)

Lane was placed in the Johnston County Detention Center under a $50,000.00 secured bond.

Christopher Lavaughn Jones

302 Banks Avenue

Goldsboro, NC

B/M

DOB-12/8/1989

Jones was charged by Princeton Police Department with:

Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon          (1 count)

Jones was placed in the Johnston County Detention Center under a $50,000.00 Secured Bond.

Still wanted for similar charges is

Domonic Devarrise Usher

B/M.

DOB 03/31/1981

If anyone has information to the whereabouts of Usher they are asked to contact the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office at 919-731-1481 or Wayne County Crimestopers at 919-735-2255.

Det/Sgt. Ron Baker headed up the investigation for the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and was assisted by Det/Sgts. Bob Golimowski and Mike Reid.

Det. Jeremy Sutton headed up the investigation for the Goldsboro Police Department.

The investigation is continuing to see if any of the suspects may be involved in similar robberies in other surrounding counties and other charges are possibly pending.

April 30, 2010 - GOLDSBORO - Mansel Tyrone Rowe of Randall Lane, Goldsboro, is facing charges of Felony Breaking and Entering, Felony Larceny after Breaking and Entering, and Felony Possession of Stolen Goods or Property. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office received a report that property was stolen from a storage building on Tommy’s Road.  The resulting investigation revealed Rowe took the property which was recovered and returned to the owner.

April 30, 2010 - HELSINKI, FINLAND - Finland’s Neste Oil has begun trials of Neste Green 100 diesel produced from 100% renewable raw materials and free of any fossil oil components. The trial includes private individuals and Neste Oil employees as well as test drivers from outside the company, who will trial Neste Green 100 diesel from mid-May to mid-summer. Drivers will fill up at selected Neste Oil service stations in Greater Helsinki. Executive Vice President of Oil Retail, Sakari Toivola, said, “This is the first time anywhere that a premium renewable diesel fuel will be tested across a range of different cars.”

April 29, 2010 - RALEIGH – May is prom time for many high school students across the state, and the North Carolina Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement is reminding students and their parents that it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to consume alcohol.

“Studies have shown that most teens get their alcohol from their parents or from other adults,” said John Ledford, ALE director.  “Parents may think that providing alcohol to teens in a safe environment is okay, but fatalities can occur if teens drive while intoxicated or their binge drinking causes alcohol poisoning.”

Ledford cited a March 27 case in Hoke County where a mother and father were each charged with 10 counts of aiding and abetting under-aged persons. The parents were hosting their son’s 18th birthday party and allegedly provided alcohol to him and his friends. Following complaints, ALE agents observed about 20 teenagers standing around a bon fire consuming alcohol behind the parent’s house.  In all, 12 people were charged on 56 counts of alcohol violations.

“We see an increase in these parties at prom time and during graduations,” Ledford said.  “ALE agents will be enforcing the law whenever they find under-age drinking violations.”

Fines for a person convicted of selling or providing alcohol to a minor can be as much as $500 plus court costs and 25 hours of community service.  Other associated costs include attorney fees and increased insurance premiums.

According to studies by the American Medical Association, alcohol stems brain development for youths under 21 years of age and may cause permanent damage to the memory and learning center inside the brain.

Statistics from the United States Department of Justice show that underage consumption of alcohol costs the nation billions of dollars annually as a result of traffic crashes, violent crimes, alcohol abuse treatment programs and other such expenses.  Alcohol is one of the leading contributors of injury, death and criminal behavior among youth.

April 29, 2010 - GOLDSBORO - Stacey Dwain Hamilton is facing charges of Felonious Larceny and Felonious Possession of Stolen Goods after an investigation by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. On March 20th, a vehicle trailer valued at $ 1,500 was stolen from a residence on Indian Springs Rd., in Seven Springs. Several days later, the trailer was located at 116 Dog Pond Road. Tuesday, the investigation into the larceny led to the arrest of Hamilton. He was placed in the Wayne County Detention Center under a $ 4,000 secured bond.

April 29, 2010 - GOLDSBORO - A $400,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency is on its way to Wayne County as part of a revitalization program. The money will be used to conduct an assessment study, which will determine how many abandoned industrial and commercial properties throughout the county could be considered a Brownfields site. A Brownfields site is a property that can not be redeveloped or reused because of the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Sue Farmer, Facilities Services Director for Wayne County, applied for the grant and said she believes the county has at least 100 sites which will qualify as a Brownfields site. Farmer said it was likely the county would receive a second grant for clean up of the sites. Wayne County was one of four counties in the state which received a Brownfields grant.

Goldsboro, April 27, 2010 – Mental illness affects 1 in every 4 persons in the United States, but the Mental Health Association in Wayne County is raising awareness and promoting good mental health through the month of May.  Mental Health America and all affiliates across the country are promoting the Live Your Life Well^SM campaign.

The association is doing this through a May is Mental Health Month Live Your Life Well^SM proclamation ceremony Monday, May 3, 2010, at 10 a.m. on the steps of City Hall.

Mayor Al King will proclaim May is Mental Health Month and members of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Honor Guard will raise the Mental Health Association flag.

This annual proclamation ceremony, according to Penny Withrow; chairperson of the May is Mental Health Month committee,  “is held to spread awareness in the community that May is Mental Health Month,” she said.  “Research is clear that mental health is essential for overall health and well-being.  These ten wellness tools will help improve your overall health and well-being.”

Ten tips to Live Your Life Well^SM -

Tool # 1 – Get Connected

Humans are social animals.  Research suggests that people who feel connected are happier and healthier – and even live longer.  Try joining a book group, hiking club or another kind of group.  Enroll in a class or commit to a certain amount of time with your loved ones each week.

Tool #2 – Stay Positive

Thinking negatively can drag down your mood and your health.  People who regularly focus on the positives in their lives are less upset by painful memories.  Stay positive by not assuming the worst.  Write down anything that makes you smile, like great relationships or special occasions and remember your achievements.

Tool #3 – Get Physically Active

Our bodies were built to move, especially when they’re pumping out stress induced hormones.  Exercise can help prevent heart disease, relieve insomnia and reduce anxiety and depression.  Make sure you get physically active by putting it on your calendar or working out with a friend.  Also, try walking a bit faster or further when you stop for groceries.

Tool #4 – Help Others

If you help your neighbor, it’s good for her, but its goof for you too.  Research suggests that those who consistently help other people experience less depression, greater calm and fewer pains.  Volunteering is a great way to help others whether it is in the community or telling someone that you admire them.  You can make a great contribution while developing your skills and learning more about an area that interests you.

Tool #5 – Get Enough Sleep

Sleep may seem like a waste when there’s so much to do, but you’re more likely to succeed at your tasks if you get nough rest.  People who don’t get enough sleep face a number of possible risks, including weight gain, decreased memory, impaired driving and heart problems.  Get a good night’s sleep by avoiding caffeine and avoiding stress and frustration.

Tool #6 – Create Joy and Satisfaction

Go ahead, kick up your heels or just kick back.  Feeling good is good for you.  Positive emotions can boost your ability to bounce back from stress.  Increase your joy and satisfaction by listening to a funny CD, doing something you loved as a kid and identify the high points of your day.

Tool #7 – Eat Well

Our bodies –and our brains- need good fuel to function well.  Eating healthily food can boost your energy, lower the risk of developing certain diseases and influence your mood.  Promote good nutrition by eating well, snacking often and striving for a balance of nutrients.

Tool #8 – Take Care of Your Spirit

Taking care of your spirit means connecting to whatever you consider meaningful and holy, whether that’s God, nature, art or something deep within yourself.  People who have strong spiritual lives may be healthier and live longer.  Connect with your spiritual side by praying, talking with other people or reading inspirational texts for insights to enrich your life.

Tool #9 – Deal Better with Hard Times

Most of us will face some particularly tough times in our lives, like a loss or divorce.  Having ways to cope with these challenges can protect your health and well-being.  Tackle your problems by making a list of possible solutions.  Pick one and then break it down into more manageable chucks.  Try getting support from other people who have gone through similar situations and can offer concrete advice.  Also, writing out an important event can make you feel better.  It helps organize your thoughts and help you file the problem away.  People coping with stress feel less depressed after problem-solving.

Tool #10 – Get Professional Help If you Need It

If the problems in your life are stopping you from functioning well or feeling good, professional help can make a big difference.  More than 80 percent of people who are treated for depression improve.  To find names of mental health care providers, you can ask your doctor, friends, and clergy, Eastpointe or MHA in Wayne County.

Please join the Mental Health Association in Wayne County as Mayor Al King, the City of Goldsboro and Community partners proclaim May is Mental Health Month.

You may visit www.mha-wc.org for a link to www.LiveYourLifeWell.org for tools that can combat stress and promote health and well-being.

April 28, 2010 - GOLDSBORO - Michael Andres’ Cordova is facing charges of Breaking & Entering, Larceny after Breaking & Entering, Possession of Stolen Goods, and Communicating Threats after an investigation by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. On April 23rd, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office received a report of communicating threats. The reporting party stated they had received messages that someone was going to burn their house down as well as kill the victim. In a separate incident the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a breaking and entering. The report list property stolen with a value of $250. Investigation revealed Cordova’s involvement. Bond was set at $1,500.