Top 10 Neuse News stories from March 2019
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10. UNC's West puts the 'student' in student-athlete
When UNC tips off against Georgia Tech at 2 p.m. on Thursday in the Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum, one of the best female basketball players in Lenoir County history will be on the Tar Heels bench. Hunter West, the all-time leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker in South Lenoir High School history, is a walk-on player for eighth-seeded North Carolina (17-13 overall, 8-8 ACC). Her path to Chapel Hill has been a unique one, though, as she truly puts the “student” in student-athlete.
9. Povar set to replace local legend as director of Parks and Recreation
The Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department will be under new leadership Monday. Corey Povar starts Monday as the department’s new director. Povar, who was born in Emporia, Va., and was most recently the recreation manager in Fountain Hills, Ariz., before moving to Kinston, has local ties. Povar graduated from Chowan University with a degree in physical education before getting his Master’s in Parks and Recreation Management at UNC-Greensboro.
8. Kinston pediatrician joins field for U.S. House Third District seat
A political neophyte from Kinston is the latest candidate to join the Republican primary race to replace the late U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones. On Wednesday, Dr. Joan Perry, a pediatrician and mother of five, announced her intent to run for North Carolina’s District 3 seat, which opened up after the passing of Jones in February.
7. WCTI's Epstein made significant impact in ENC tenure
Although she’s only been in Eastern North Carolina for two-and-a-half years, WCTI ABC-12’s Ariel Epstein has made a lasting impact. Epstein’s final day as a sports reporter and weekend sports anchor for WCTI is Sunday. Epstein and station management were unable to come to an agreement on her contract, so she is leaving ENC to return home to New York.
6. FIRST ON NEUSE NEWS (UPDATED): Lenoir County hires new manager
Lenoir County has found its new county manager – and he has deep Kinston and Eastern North Carolina roots. Michael James, 32, was approved by the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners following a short, specially-called closed session meeting held before the regular monthly meeting Monday morning. James will officially take over as Lenoir County Manager on April 1; he replaces Mike Jarman, who retired from the position Sept. 1.
5. Trenton-based brewery opens tap room in Kinston
There's a new brewery in town. On March 4, Big Game Brewing established its tap room on U.S. 70, next to Neuse Sport Shop. The concept of the organization, created by Aaron Avery, David Houston and Hampton Peterman, started from a thought among friends.
4. Couple with Lenoir County roots to be featured on TLC tonight
Grab a cookie and a seat on the couch because hometown favorite Angie Daniels Tucker is hitting the television screen tonight. She’ll appear on TLC’s hit show “Trading Spaces” at 8 p.m., today. Tucker is famed for her custom cookie creations as part of the duo behind Southern Sugar Bakery in Raleigh. During the show, she’ll trade in her cookie decorating techniques for carpentry and home redesign.
3. Dump trucks catch fire at local business Friday
An early morning blaze destroyed two dump trucks and damaged a third at a local business. Lynn Everett, owner of Everett’s Clearing and Grading on Fred Everett Road In Kinston, said he got a call from an employee at 4:48 a.m., informing him of the fire. When Everett arrived on the scene, two trucks were in flames, and the wind was threatening to spread the flames to the truck parked next in line.
2. APA alum, UNC hoops manager turns adversity into success
As Tyson Creech was preparing for his senior season for the Arendell Parrott Academy basketball team, a life-changing moment happened — he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. Creech has taken the potentially-devastating experience and turned it into a positive. This weekend, Creech is working his final ACC men’s basketball tournament as a varsity manager for third-ranked North Carolina. The path from lying injured on a court in Kinston in the summer of 2014 to being an important cog in the powerful Tar Heels basketball machine has been long, but it’s a journey for which Creech is thankful.
1. Alleged drunk driver decimates dealership
A local used car dealer found an extra car on his lot Friday night — but it was not a welcome addition. According to Trooper Gary Ipock of the State Highway Patrol, around 9:30 p.m. Friday night, John Williams of Kinston was driving an older Chevrolet Suburban and traveling at a high rate of speed on Dobbs Farm Road when he ran through a red light at the intersection with U.S. 258 North and damaged property at HFT Sales.
