The La Grange Town Council met on August 4, 2025, taking important actions that reflect the Town’s commitment to revitalizing downtown, improving housing conditions, and enhancing neighborhoods.

Paige Petticrew, Consumer Horticulture Agent for Lenoir County Cooperative Extension, earned first place in the Feature Story category during the Communications Award Luncheon at the 2025 North Carolina Association of County Agricultural Agents (NCACAA) this summer. Her winning piece, originally published by Neuse News on September 19, 2024 spotlighted the impactful work of the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers (EMGV) of Lenoir County and their passion for youth education through horticulture.

This evening, Kinston Police Department officers responded to a report of a 12-year-old who had been shot in the arm on Dixon Street. The victim received medical attention, and investigators are actively working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

As I was looking through some of my old columns, I found one from 24 years ago on the subject of – drum roll – artificial intelligence. The column addressed one critic’s response to the film: “A.I. – Artificial Intelligence.” Bart Kosko, then a world-renowned expert in the field of artificial intelligence, attacked the film not for its plodding plot or bleak vision of the cruelty of human against defenseless robotic creatures. Instead, Kosko makes several assertions based on what seemed fuzzy logic at best.

The following land transfers were filed with the Lenoir County Register of Deeds:

Kinston-Lenoir County Sports Hall of Fame is excited to announce the incoming class of 2025 which include the following inductees: Tony Dawson, Eddie Gwaltney, Tracy Hart, Dee Dee Jarman, Norman Joyner, Cam Mcrae, Cliff Whitfield and the 1967 Grainger High School State Championship Baseball team.

Sección 5311 (ADTAP), 5310, 5339, 5307 y financiación estatal aplicable, o una combinación de ellas. Se informa al público que se llevará a cabo una audiencia pública sobre la propuesta

This is to inform the public that a public hearing will be held on the proposed Lenoir County Community Transportation Program Application to be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation no later than October 3, 2025. The public hearing will be held on August 18, 2025 at 4:00 PM before the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners.

The Lenoir County Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting Monday evening, covering a packed agenda that included teacher recognitions, program highlights from a busy summer, and approvals related to construction, nursing services, and school policy.

UNC Health Lenoir has once again been nationally recognized for its commitment to high-quality care, earning four prestigious awards from the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® initiative for excellence in the treatment of heart failure, stroke, and resuscitation, with an emphasis on reducing rural health disparities. 

The following is a list of people who have recently passed away in Lenoir County:

Francis Earl Wood, 89, passed away peacefully early Friday morning at his home, surrounded by the love of his family. The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 10, 2025 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Rouse Funeral Home in La Grange. A service celebrating Earl’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 in the chapel of Rouse Funeral Home. Interment will follow the service on Tuesday at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Kinston.

Walter Timothy "Tim" Shivar, 84, of Snow Hill, passed away peacefully on August 6, 2025.

According to the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, a deceased female has been discovered on Pauls Path near Falling Creek Road, located between Kinston and LaGrange.

The Lenoir County Farmers Market, located at 100 N. Herritage Street, will be open Tuesday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

National Farmers Market Week, established 26 years ago, is celebrated each year during the first full week of August, August 3rd – 9th, 2025.  This annual celebration was established by the National Farmers Market Coalition to highlight the vital role farmers markets play in the nation’s food systems.  

The following businesses were registered with the North Carolina Secretary of State:

A Kinston police officer’s use of force during the July 13 arrest of Cameron Williams was deemed justified after internal and external reviews.

Circa 1955, my G-grandad, Philmore T. Ledford, gave me a word of wisdom: "If you can find time to criticize you can find time to give praise." So, here's a little of both.

Kinston Police Department Detectives have obtained warrants for Kendall Forbes, 21, of Lenoir County, in connection with a recent shooting incident. With assistance from the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office, Forbes was taken into custody during a traffic stop.

Kinston City Council’s August 5 meeting mixed emotional public comment with a full slate of utility upgrades, vehicle and equipment purchases, and community updates. Mayor Pro Tem Antonio Hardy presided in Mayor Don Hardy’s absence.

At approximately 7:03 a.m. today, officers with the Kinston Police Department responded to a report of gunfire on Herbert Drive. Upon arrival, it was discovered that a residence had been struck. Fortunately, no one was injured.

TRENTON – The Jones County Board of Commissioners met Aug. 4 at the Jones County Agricultural Building, approving public health and environmental health funding allocations, advancing a major housing revitalization grant, and accepting a $70,000 donation for park improvements, among other actions.

It’s been a busy and productive summer in Eastern North Carolina and in Raleigh. In July, we overrode eight of Governor Stein’s vetoes — protecting your freedoms, supporting law enforcement, and delivering the kind of common-sense results that folks in our communities expect.

The Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library is hosting an author event on August 7, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., where local authors have been invited to share their books with the public. This event is open to all authors in Greene, Jones, and Lenoir County is a great opportunity for them to share their works, have conversations with other authors, and sell or sign copies of their books.

On Aug. 16, Sean P. Keenan will set out on a 115-mile cycling journey from Kinston to Raleigh to raise awareness and funds for mental health research in memory of his mother, Mary, who died by suicide in 2007.

The plan prioritizes agriculture-related sectors, including agribusiness, smart farming, aquaculture, packaging, and agro-tourism.

Wendy's has advertised an extremely good breakfast deal, biscuit special. How do you get it? 

Patricia McGown Rockenhauser, 94, passed away in her home on August 5, 2025, surrounded by family and friends A service celebrating Pat’s life will take place at 11:00 AM, Thursday, August 7th, 2025, at Westminster United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends following the service in the fellowship hall. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed by the church.

The following land transfers were filed with the Lenoir County Register of Deeds: