The filing period for North Carolina's 2026 municipal elections opened Monday, December 1, 2025 marking the official start of the campaign season for dozens of local offices across Lenoir, Jones and Greene counties. Candidates seeking election to partisan and nonpartisan offices have until noon on Friday, December 19 to file with their respective county boards of elections.
Lenoir County Commissioner Roland Best Jr., a longtime public servant and respected community leader, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. He was 74.
The Christmas season is a special time of year where many celebrate with friends and family, but it can also be a difficult time of year for many. Therefore, each year our church family at Jackson Heights OFWB Church comes together for our annual Christmas gift giveaway to try to help make the Christmas season a little merrier for those in our community.
Backpack Buddies of Lenoir County has received a grant of $1,800 from the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation to help nourish neighbors experiencing hunger. The Nourishing Our Neighbors grant supports community feeding partners by helping neighbors increase their access to nutritious food and providing nutrition education to reduce health risks for those experiencing food insecurity.
Andrew Jackson “Andy” Harrison Jr., 55, passed away on December 17, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family while under the compassionate care of Kitty Askins Hospice Center. Andy was born in Lenoir County on December 20, 1969, to Jack and Myrtle Harrison.
Shirley Ann Holland Sutton, 86, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. A service of love and remembrance will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, 2025 at Rouse Funeral Home with Pastor Stan Matthews officiating. The family will receive friends in the hour prior to service. Committal will follow at Fairview Cemetery, La Grange.
Emily Lucille Richardson Pennington, 77, passed away on Sunday, December 14, 2025. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation on Friday, December 19, 2025 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Rouse Funeral Home. A service of love and remembrance will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Rouse Funeral Home with Mr. Lennie Reagan officiating. Committal will be held at the Eastern Carolina Veterans Cemetery at 12:00 noon on Monday, December 22, 2025.
On December 18, 2025, A Deputy with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office C Shift observed a white Chevrolet Malibu traveling at a high rate of speed on W. Washington Street in La Grange.
Lenoir/Greene United Way is proud to announce Dr. Brandy Harrell as President-Elect of the Board of Directors, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to creating lasting, equitable change across our community.
A cold front moving through eastern North Carolina late Thursday night through Friday afternoon is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds and hazardous coastal and marine conditions, according to the National Weather Service in Morehead City.
Greene County officials, staff, and community partners held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 15 at the Greene County Justice Center to mark the completion of Courtroom 2.
Notice is hereby given that the Kinston City Council will hold a Public Hearing at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, or as soon thereafter as may be heard, in City Hall Council Chambers, 207 East King Street, Kinston, NC and/or by virtual format. The following item will be heard:
Notice is hereby given that the Kinston City Council will hold a Public Hearing at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, or as soon thereafter as may be heard, in City Hall Council Chambers, 207 East King Street, Kinston, NC and/or by virtual format. The following item will be heard:
The filing period for North Carolina's 2026 municipal elections opened Monday, December 1, 2025 marking the official start of the campaign season for dozens of local offices across Lenoir, Jones and Greene counties. Candidates seeking election to partisan and nonpartisan offices have until noon on Friday, December 19 to file with their respective county boards of elections.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections on Wednesday dismissed both election protest appeals related to Kinston’s 2025 municipal races, allowing the city’s election results to move forward toward final certification.
The Kinston City Council voted Dec. 2 to approve a contract committing the city to pay $7,500 per month for lobbying services, a decision made before newly elected council members were sworn in and seated.
La Grange-Paulette Lancaster Burroughs, 76, peacefully departed this life on Sunday, December 14, 2025. A service of love and remembrance will be held Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Rouse Funeral Home, with Pastor Tom Mellay officiating. The family will receive friends in the hour prior to the service. Committal will follow at Fairview Cemetery.
Lenoir Community College proudly announces that it has been selected as a recipient of the State Auditor’s Award of Excellence, a prestigious statewide honor recognizing exemplary financial reporting and accountability. LCC is one of only a select group of institutions, including universities, community colleges, and state agencies, to earn this distinction for outstanding financial audit performance.
In a classroom usually filled with lesson plans, lab sheets and the hum of kitchen equipment, two South Lenoir High School sophomores created something that reached far beyond their school walls. Jeremiah Bey and Christopher Rodgers are now among just five student teams in the state to be competing in the finalist round of the North Carolina Junior Chef Competition, a statewide challenge that pushes students to design nutritious, affordable meals that could realistically be served in public school cafeterias.
Betsy Sutton Gray, 87, peacefully went home on Monday, December 15, 2025 at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro. Born April 8, 1938, she was the daughter of the late Alton and Lorena Sutton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Christine Gray.
