You may recognize this information from the beginning of last school year. For the past several years, I have shared tips for succeeding in school I learned from 37-plus years as a classroom teacher. I am going to share my “Bees” of success.

Dozens gathered outside Gordon Street Christian Church this week to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, honoring loved ones lost and calling for compassion and action in the fight against substance use disorder.

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

Lenoir County Public Schools is soliciting qualifications from qualified vendors to provide furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) for the new E. B. Frink Middle School currently under construction at 405 N. Charles Street, LaGrange, NC 28551. The district seeks firms with proven experience in furnishing educational facilities with durable, ergonomic, and flexible furniture solutions appropriate for middle school students and staff.

Lenoir County Emergency Services is urging residents to sign up for HyperReach, a new emergency notification system designed to quickly inform the public during critical situations.

Edwards Dentures and Implants, a trusted name in dental care across North Carolina, is thrilled to announce the opening of its new Wilmington, NC, denture clinic on September 2, 2025. Located centrally at 4230 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28403, this completely renovated facility joins the established Kinston clinic to serve residents from Southport to Jacksonville with free consultations, same-day dentures, and Medicaid options.

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

Lenoir County Public Schools is soliciting qualifications from qualified vendors to provide furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) for the new E. B. Frink Middle School currently under construction at 405 N. Charles Street, LaGrange, NC 28551. The district seeks firms with proven experience in furnishing educational facilities with durable, ergonomic, and flexible furniture solutions appropriate for middle school students and staff.

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.

Fall is the time to welcome juicy, sweet pears to your farm markets, and turn this healthy fruit in hot crisps, flakey pies, and hearty salads.  Generally, pears are in season in Eastern North Carolina from about August to October.  If you have a pear tree in your yard or on your farm, cherish it.   The weight of the fruit combined with the strong winds brought in by hurricanes and other storms, can really do some damage pear trees, especially aging ones.  

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

Don Griffin Phillips, beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 79 on August 28th, 2025 at his home in Trenton, NC. A memorial service celebrating Don’s life will be held on September 2nd, 2025 at 6pm, at Edwards Funeral Home located on 702 Queen Street in Kinston, NC. Visitation with the family will begin at 5pm prior to the memorial service. A private burial will be held at a later date.

On July 3, 2025, the Kinston Police Department was alerted to threatening comments posted on social media that were discovered during a review of publicly available information.

Lenoir County Public Schools is soliciting qualifications from qualified vendors to provide furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) for the new E. B. Frink Middle School currently under construction at 405 N. Charles Street, LaGrange, NC 28551. The district seeks firms with proven experience in furnishing educational facilities with durable, ergonomic, and flexible furniture solutions appropriate for middle school students and staff.

On Thursday, August 28, 2025, at approximately 11:53 p.m., officers with the Kinston Police Department were dispatched to a report of a subject who had been shot near the 500 block of East Bright Street.

UNC Health is the first healthcare institution in the nation to launch an Obstetrics and Gynecology Fellowship dedicated to rural women’s health. The new UNC School of Medicine program’s intent is not only to train physicians to provide high-quality care in rural settings but also to make it easier for women who live in North Carolina’s “maternity care deserts” to access the medical care they desperately need.

The first week of school brought energy and optimism across Lenoir County Public Schools, with teachers and administrators pointing to rising enrollment, strong community support and students eager to return to class.

Downtown Kinston Revitalization Executive Director Leon Steele told City Council this week that while investment in the municipal service district is growing, abandoned and neglected buildings remain one of the community’s greatest obstacles.

“These structures are not only unattractive, they are unsafe,” Steele said. “They present liability risks, they drag down property values and they obstruct the growth we’re working so hard to achieve.”

The Kinston City Council’s most recent meeting blended recognition, sharp public criticism, and a major redevelopment proposal for one of the city’s largest industrial properties.

Notice is hereby given that the Town of La Grange has received an offer to purchase the following property:

Property: Town-owned real property located at 313 S. Caswell Street, La Grange, NC, identified as Parcel #15109. The property is approximately 0.74 acres and is currently zoned R-18 Residential.

My name is Rekia Harris, I am 33 years old, and I was born and raised right here in Kinston, NC. This city has always been home, but as I’ve gotten older and strived for more independence as a disabled citizen, I’ve found that Kinston limits me in ways that are both frustrating and disheartening.

Evans & Associates of Kinston and Lititz Mutual Insurance Company of Pennsylvania have once again partnered to present a matching donation to the Lenoir Community College Foundation in support of student scholarships.

The Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association of Lenoir County (EMGV) is excited to announce the availability of its 2025 Horticulture Grant, designed to inspire educators in Lenoir County to bring hands-on gardening and environmental learning into the classroom.

David Buck of North Lenoir High School was competitively chosen by the American Battlefield Trust to be one of only 10 young leaders to “serve as the youth face and voice of the American Battlefield Trust” for a year.

Early Head Start slots are now available for children ages 1–3 years old (child must not turn 3 before August 30, 2025).

Margaret Lucile Davis, age 90, of Kinston, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro, surrounded by the love and prayers of her family. Visitation will be held at Edwards Funeral Home on Thursday, August 28, 2025, beginning at 10:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Brian Rogers officiating. Interment will follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Kinston.

The Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce and the Lenoir Community College Small Business Center are excited to announce the launch of the ENC Nonprofit Roundtable, a new opportunity for local nonprofits to come together over a meal, learn from one another, and support each other to become more successful. 

The Amvets Chapter 1111, Women’s Auxiliary met to deliver homemade blankets to the veteran’s at the North Carolina Veterans Home in Kinston. These blankets have been made by the Women’s auxiliary members and are part of a commitment to provide each Veteran at the home a blanket to honor their service to the nation.

NOTICE the La Grange Town Council acting as the La Grange Board of Adjustment will conduct an evidentiary hearing at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, September 8, 2025, in the Council Chambers at La Grange Town Hall, 203 S. Center St., La Grange, NC starting at 6:00 PM. The Variance request is described below: