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10. Strickland benefit set for April 12

Tracy Strickland, 45, passed away on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at Vidant Inpatient Hospice in Greenville. Strickland was diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach cancer in August and is beloved by her coworkers at The Boiler Room, including Jennifer Sinclair, who helped put the benefit together. The cost for a plate is $8 and all proceeds will go to Strickland’s family for medical and living expenses.

9. BREAKING NEWS: GC's Wooten to take Havelock football position

Allen Wooten is going from one group of Rams to another. Wooten will be the new coach of Havelock High School; he coached Greene Central for six years, compiling a 39-34 record. His GC teams never missed the postseason.

8. Train collides with truck in Kinston Thursday

A train collided with a truck in Kinston Thursday afternoon, leading to the traffic delays as the train remained stopped across numerous crossings for several hours. Traffic for Southeast Elementary School was rerouted due to the incident.

7. UPDATED: Fire at Maready Tire Company destroys trailer

Customers and employees at Maready Tire Company, located at 5746 Hwy 70 West in Lenoir County, got an unpleasant surprise Tuesday afternoon when smoke began to pour from a trailer behind the building. It all started around 3 p.m., when an employee noticed smoke coming from a semi trailer behind the building that was used for tire storage.

6. A decade later, Pearson and Dawson's legacy continues

Ten years ago, in the early morning hours of April 8, 2009, our world lost a hero — and nearly lost another — when a cocaine-addled murderer opened fire on Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office detectives and officers in northeastern Lenoir County near the small community of Tick Bite, near Grifton. LCSO Det. Allen Pearson died at the much-too-young age of 29 that fateful Wednesday morning from gunshots to his upper chest. His friend and fellow LCSO detective, Ryan Dawson, then only 28, was struck in the neck by bullets; two emergency surgeries later, his long road to recovery started.

5. Lenoir County restaurant inspections for Feb. 15 through March 4

The following restaurant inspections were conducted by the Lenoir County Health Department: Canteen Kinston Catering, Dos Marias Grill and Cantina, East Coast Wings and Grill, Olympian, Sugar Hill Pizzeria, Sandpiper Seafood, Quick N Chicken and Taco Bell.

4. UPDATE: House explosion rocks La Grange

Statement by Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office: Multiple local, state and federal fire investigators have concluded the on scene investigation of an explosion scene in La Grange. After completing their search of the remnants of the home and conducting interviews with witnesses and persons associated with the resident, investigators believe the explosion occurred because of an LP Gas leak in the home.

3. Serious accident injures two near Maready Tire

Despite the fact that the Falling Creek Service Center remains closed while cleaning up and waiting for power to be restored following Tuesday’s fire, the location was again a center of first responder activity following a serious accident on U.S. 70 West Thursday afternoon.

2. West Water Park announces its closing

West Water Park has closed for the remainder of 2019. A post from West Water Park’s Facebook page read “I regret to inform everyone that West Water Park will not reopen this year. Due to rising overhead costs and a decline in business, it no longer makes financial sense for us to keep operating. We are thankful for our loyal customers, groups, and staff. We will treasure all the wonderful memories we have of our years at the water park.”

1. Ayden's newest restaurant built on family legacy and a dream

Ayden is a tiny town in our area, but if you are a foodie, you know it well. Ayden’s barbecue joints are well-known across the state and across the nation. Now, Tonnia Pollard Wallace wants to throw her hat into the restaurant ring. Just around the corner from the Ayden Fire Department and a block from the heart of the town is a tiny little restaurant called “Fryday Nite Fish.” The restaurant is scheduled to hold its grand opening Wednesday.