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10. Bullock's work for LGBTQ community inspired by sister, grandmother

Two women — one who passed in 2011 and the other tragically taken from him in 2014 — have shaped Kinston’s Reggie Bullock into the person he is today. Bullock has spent the past five years of his life turning a horrifying personal and family tragedy into an opportunity to learn and to teach others what he’s learned.

9. BREAKING NEWS: KPD Chief Jaynes to retire

Kinston City Manager Tony Sears verified with Neuse News that Kinston Police Chief Alonzo Jaynes is retiring after three years in the position. The retirement will be effective Sept. 1.

8. Child gets big surprise at preschool graduation

Soon-to-be kindergartener Jaxson James donned a miniature cap-and-gown with the rest of his preschool classmates from Mrs. Lindsey’s Childcare expecting only to show off some of the things he learned during the year and receive a diploma celebrating his achievement. As far as Jaxson knew, his father, Dominick James, would miss the ceremony because he was out of the country. A Marine veteran, Dominick spent the last six months in Afghanistan and Iraq due to his work as a military contractor for Northrop Grumman.

7. Invasive insect found in Lenoir County for first time

An emerald ash borer (EAB) was found in Lenoir County for the first time, making it the 40th county within the state where this invasive insect has been detected. The EAB was found west of Kinston on a trap placed to detect the beetle by the N.C. Forest Service.

6. UPDATED: KPD IDs man found dead on E. Caswell Street

The Kinston Police Department has identified the victim in a death investigation. Thomas Burney Jr., 58, was discovered unconscious and bleeding at the 600 block of East Caswell Street at 3:40 a.m. today, and was pronounced dead at the scene. No cause of death has yet been declared; a press release from the KPD stated the cause will be determined by the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

5. Affordable Care corporate office closes doors in Kinston

More than two dozen employees of a local dental company worked their final day in Kinston Friday. Affordable Care, LLC closed the doors of its Kinston operation Friday. While Affordable Care is leaving Kinston, the local Affordable Dentures & Implants office will remain open to serve its customers.

4. Laughing Owl restaurant set to open Wednesday

Downtown Kinston has a new restaurant. Located on North Street, owners of the Laughing Owl restaurant hopes to entice new clientele with a wide selection of Asian food. Neo Rivera, owner of The Laughing Owl, is proud to be a part of the Kinston community. The company wanted to expand by opening their second location, this time in Kinston. With their first restaurant in Goldsboro, established in 2016, they have high hopes to duplicate their success in Lenoir County.

3. Parrott Academy Names New Head of School

Brooks Sutton has been selected to serve as Head of Arendell Parrott Academy beginning in 2020, the school’s Board of Trustees announced on May 28th. Currently serving as Head of the Upper School at Parrott, Sutton has taught middle school science and Advanced Placement Physics, coached field hockey and led the school’s AdvancED reaccreditation process. Sutton has a B.S. from Wake Forest University and earned a Masters in Teaching and a Masters in School Administration from ECU, lives in Greenville with her husband, ECU professor Lee Sutton, and has two children at APA.

2. Kinston Police investigate homicide

On Friday, June 21, 2019 at 11:40 p.m., officers responded to call of a gunshot victim on Williams Street near Old Snow Hill Road. Officers arrived to find 51-year-old Thomas Keith Sutton of Kinston suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sutton died at the scene. A person on the shooting scene immediately identified himself as the shooter surrendered to officers.

1. Batchelor survives tragedy, stars for Jones Senior

For Tanner Batchelor, Saturday meant quite a bit. Jones Senior held its graduation Saturday after what has been a tough year for the school and community. Hurricane Florence devastated the county last September and took out a pair of schools — Trenton Elementary and Jones Middle — as members in the community lost homes and possessions throughout, Batchelor’s family among them. Tanner Batchelor had a strong year on the field, however, batting .456 with 39 RBIs as the Trojans made the playoffs for the first time since 2016.