9th Judicial District Honors Community, Progress, and Hope

Lenoir, Greene, and Wayne Counties proudly celebrate Recovery Court Month during the month of May, joining communities nationwide in recognizing the life-changing impact of recovery courts. This annual observance highlights the strength of the community and the hope that grows when people and resources come together to support individuals on their recovery journeys. 

Obituary: Diane Tyndall Hill

Diane Tyndall Hill, of La Grange, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at Magnolia Cottages on May 14, 2026. Funeral services will be held at Wheat Swamp Christian Church on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Visitation will follow the service.

Hickory Grove Church (13)

Hickory Grove was a relatively small Baptist work in 1872. Yet newspapers from as far as Charlotte, Greensboro, Wilson, and New Bern, and closer home in Goldsboro and Kinston soon began to report on Church happenings. Reporting continued over the next several decades. The earliest known reference to Hickory Grove appeared in an 1873 news item: 

Public Notice: LCPS Request for Quote: RFQ2026H- Heated Equipment Maintenance and Repair

"In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Obituary: Phyllis Kay Smith

Phyllis Kay Smith, of Grifton, formerly of Atlantic Beach, passed away peacefully at home on May 9, 2026 at the age of 78. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 16, at 2 pm at Sharon United Methodist Church, Kinston. The family will receive friends following the service.

Obituary: Ronald Keith Everett

Ronald Keith Everett, a beloved husband, father, stepfather, brother, and grandfather, passed away on May 9, 2026, in Alexandria, Louisiana. A celebration of life will be planned at a later date to honor this remarkable man whose legacy lives on through each life he touched.

UNC Health Lenoir Earns 4-Star CMS Rating

UNC Health Lenoir has been awarded a 4-star rating by CMS, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS is the federal agency that provides health coverage to more than 160 million people through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. CMS works in partnership with the entire healthcare community to improve quality, equity, and outcomes across the healthcare system.

Public Notice: LCPS Request for Quote: RFQ2026H- Heated Equipment Maintenance and Repair

"In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.