Maury, N.C. — Jesse Espinoza (#1432031) died Monday at Greene Correctional Institution in an apparent suicide.
Kinston council approves Airport Road expansion, holds recreation budget reduction
Kinston City Council approved a special use permit for an Airport Road commercial development, selected a consultant for a $350,000 street safety planning project and postponed a proposed recreation funding reduction during its Oct. 6 meeting.
Lenoir County births
The following birth certificates were issued in Lenoir County:
Obituary: Robert Morris Goodman
Robert Morris Goodman “Mr. Biddie”, 88, passed away on Friday, October 3, 2026. A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, 11 AM, at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Hookerton, NC. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at 1 PM, at Westview Cemetery, in Kinston, NC. The family encourages anybody who would like to join at the cemetery to come.
UNC Health Lenoir Invites Community to “Walk with a Doc”
UNC Health Lenoir is encouraging community members to take a step toward better health by joining “Walk with a Doc,” a free monthly program that brings community members together with local physicians and healthcare professionals for conversation, health education and physical activity.
Public Notice: Lenoir County WIC Program
The Lenoir County WIC Program is a federally funded supplemental nutrition program that provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and health/community referrals for eligible women, infants and children (up to age 5 year). You may qualify even if you work or receive other types of assistance. Take the first step.
Work to begin at former Farmers Oil Company property in Walstonburg
Contractors are expected to begin clearing portions of the former Farmers Oil Company property and demolishing two older warehouses this week, according to Greene County officials.
Lenoir County school board reviews intervention results, construction updates
Lenoir County school leaders reported gains among students receiving extra academic support and progress on the new E.B. Frink Middle School during the Board of Education's Oct. 5 meeting.
Greene County commissioners select school financing, approve revaluation firm
Greene County commissioners selected an 18-year financing option for approximately $14 million in school project funding and approved a firm for the county's 2029 property revaluation during their Oct. 5 meeting.
Jones County commissioners approve grant application, update development rules
Jones County commissioners approved an application seeking about $5 million for housing improvements and a recreation facility, adopted changes to development regulations and called for stronger state action on road maintenance during their Oct. 5 meeting.
Obituary: Gerald “Doc” Golden
Gerald Joseph Golden III, affectionately known by his church family as “Doc,” passed away unexpectedly at home with his wife by his side on Friday, October 2, 2026. A service of love and remembrance will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at New Direction Church, Snow Hill, with Pastor Matthew Galloway officiating.
Two taken into custody after Jones County shooting leaves one hospitalized
Two people were taken into custody after a shooting in Jones County left a man hospitalized with an arm wound, according to Sheriff Matthew Wineman.
Lenoir commissioners hear deputies’ recovery update, approve $5 million grant application
Two Lenoir County deputies wounded in a shooting Friday were home recovering after surgery, Sheriff Jackie Rogers told county commissioners Monday as the board opened its Oct. 5 meeting.
Kinston mother charged after child found on Highway 70 twice in one day
On October 5, 2026, at approximately 3:10 a.m., Kinston Police Department D-Squad officers responded to the 4700 block of Highway 70 West after a truck driver located a 6-year-old child walking in the area.
Kinston’s National Night Out brings community and first responders together
Kinston residents and city employees gathered for National Night Out, bringing the community together with police officers and firefighters to strengthen relationships.
Holloway cheerleaders give back with donations to homeless shelter
The Holloway Vikings cheerleaders put a lesson in community service into action, donating more than 100 rolls of paper towels and more than 100 rolls of bathroom tissue to the Friends of the Homeless Shelter.
Restaurant ratings for Sept. 21-27, 2026
The records for Sept. 7-13 include restaurants, school cafeterias, a grocery produce department and a lodging establishment. Inspectors documented issues involving food temperatures, storage, sanitation and equipment maintenance. Several violations were corrected during inspections.
Kinston council to consider paving changes, recreation budget reduction
Kinston City Council will consider removing two streets from its current paving project and reducing the budget for maintaining county recreation sites by $102,660 when it meets Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Obituary: Evander Hayes “Van” Willoughby
Mr. Evander Hayes “Van” Willoughby, age 92, passed away Friday evening, October 2, 2026, at the NC State Veterans Home in Kinston. A native of Robeson County, he was born February 5, 1934, the son of Clegg Hall Willoughby and Lydia Pittman Willoughby.
Kinston police investigate shooting at St. Johns Village Apartments
On October 3, 2026, the Kinston Police Department responded to a residence on the 900 block of E. Highland Avenue (St. Johns Village Apartments) regarding a report of a gunshot victim.