Part of Kinston’s enduring World War II legacy revolves around its two USOs in operation from 1942 through the end of the war. More than 700,000 men and women from Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point, Camp Davis and the Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield-Kinston visited these two facilities during the WWII.

Experience history firsthand at the CSS Neuse Civil War Museum during the second annual “Sailors in the Summer: Ironclads and Naval Living History” program. The event takes place on Saturday, Aug. 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and will showcase the lives of sailors during the Civil War. The CSS Neuse Museum is administered by the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

On July 16, 2025, the State Water Infrastructure Authority approved a grant of $909,976 to the Town of Walstonburg in Greene County through the DWSRF program. The funds will support the second phase of critical upgrades to the town’s drinking water system.

Lenoir County Schools is seeking a qualified testing and special inspections firm for the E.B. Frink Middle School Replacement project. The School District will negotiate a contract with the selected firm immediately upon selection and services are expected to begin immediately afterward, in July of 2025. The project is scheduled to be completed in February of 2026.

Donna Lynn Carter Heath departed this life on July 22, 2025, just six days shy of her 59th birthday. A service of love and remembrance will be held by the graveside at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Daly’s Chapel Church Cemetery with Pastor Chris Turner officiating.

Dwight Moody Laws, 85, entered into the presence of his Lord on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. A graveside service to celebrate Dwight’s life will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 25, 2025 at Fairview Cemetery, La Grange. The family will receive friends following the service.

Robert Vernon Dail, 86, of Kinston, passed away on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The family will receive friends at the home of Henry after the graveside service which will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 25, 2025 at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Kinston, NC.

Forecasters are growing increasingly concerned about dangerous heat conditions expected to impact Eastern North Carolina (ENC) from Friday through early next week.

Following the recent shooting incident in the St. Johns area, investigators identified Sentelle Leonard (25 of Goldsboro) as the primary suspect. Detectives secured arrest warrants for Leonard on the following charges:

Every other month we showcase a LSTA grant project from a North Carolina library. This month we are featuring a conversation with grant project managers Monique Summer and Amber Hargett, of Neuse Regional Library System. Thanks to SLNC staff member’s Lynda Reynolds for contributing this story.

Xi Beta Upsilon’s year was busy with travel and service projects. Music at the Grand Ole Opry, cruising the Cape Fear River, touring Bellamy Mansion Museum, seeing a Christmas show in Selma, and line dancing by the pool.

Lenoir County Schools is seeking a qualified testing and special inspections firm for the E.B. Frink Middle School Replacement project. The School District will negotiate a contract with the selected firm immediately upon selection and services are expected to begin immediately afterward, in July of 2025. The project is scheduled to be completed in February of 2026.

In a move aimed at strengthening collaboration and spurring regional growth, the City of Kinston and Lenoir County Government held the inaugural meeting of their newly formed Joint Working Committee this week.

The Greene County Board of Election members were sworn in today by The Honorable Imelda Pate. Pictured left to right: Stephen Rouse, Secretary; Robert Jones, member; Ben Lanier, member, Judge Imelda Pate and Jody Tyson, chairman. Not pictured is Le’Toya McNeal. She was sworn in at tonight’s meeting by Chairman Jody Tyson.

The Lenoir County Board of Elections was sworn in during its most recent meeting by Lenoir County Clerk of Court Mary Alphin.

My grandmother died at 102 years young. She lived on her own until the final week when she moved to hospice. My mom died at 82 years old. Amazingly, she only outlived her mom by 7 months. 

RALEIGH – Speeding is one of the most frequent traffic violations, but its consequences can be deadly.

Lenoir County Schools is seeking a qualified testing and special inspections firm for the E.B. Frink Middle School Replacement project. The School District will negotiate a contract with the selected firm immediately upon selection and services are expected to begin immediately afterward, in July of 2025. The project is scheduled to be completed in February of 2026.

NOTICE is hereby given that the Town Council of the Town of La Grange will hold a public hearing at the regular Board meeting of the Town of La Grange on August 4, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the Town of La Grange Town Hall located at 203 South Center Street, La Grange, North Carolina, on two proposed Official Zoning Map Amendments (Rezonings).

Esther Whitfield Almond, 91, was graciously welcomed into the presence of her Lord on July 20, 2025. Born in Wayne County on November 6, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Stenis J. Whitfield and Ruby Lee Etheridge Whitfield. A service of love and remembrance will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at Rouse Funeral Home, with Rev. Percy Cunningham and Rev. Leon Grubbs officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service. A private committal will follow at Fairview Cemetery.

Edna Adams Potter went home to be with the Lord and reunited with her husband, Billy, on July 19, 2025. Edna passed away peacefully surrounded by her family. Visitation will take place on Saturday, July 26 at 2:00 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 3:00 p.m. at Rouse Funeral Home, 108 N. Caswell Street, La Grange, NC 28551. A graveside service will follow immediately after at Westview Cemetery in Kinston, NC.

Following an internal review conducted by the Kinston Police Department Administration and the department's Internal Affairs Division, the following information is being released to provide transparency and support the actions taken by responding officers during a recent critical incident. 

Our hearts are heavy as we address the recent incidents that have deeply affected our City. This is an emotional time for our entire community, and the Mayor and Council are profoundly concerned about what has transpired. We understand and share your anguish, and we want to assure you that we are taking these matters with the utmost seriousness.

In light of this weekend’s events, we want to ensure that families in our community know about this important program designed to help protect individuals who may be at greater risk of wandering or going missing, such as those living with autism, dementia, or other cognitive challenges.

Neuse Regional Libraries (NRL) are excited for the opportunity to implement the Digital Learning Centers: Opening the Door to Accessibility project thanks to a $44,595 LSTA grant made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.  

The following land transfers were filed with the Lenoir County Register of Deeds:

Lenoir County Schools is seeking a qualified testing and special inspections firm for the E.B. Frink Middle School Replacement project. The School District will negotiate a contract with the selected firm immediately upon selection and services are expected to begin immediately afterward, in July of 2025. The project is scheduled to be completed in February of 2026.

Lenoir County says an external cybersecurity breach led to the $1.34 million payment error and has asked the FBI to investigate after an internal review confirmed its systems were secure. According to the statement, the County is negotiating in good faith with the contractor to resolve the dispute without burdening taxpayers.

On Saturday July 20th, 2025, Harry went to be at peace with Jesus after a long, hard fought battle with cancer. Graveside Services will be held on Thursday, July 24th, 2025, at ?? at Westview Cemetery at 917 Cleveland Dr., Kinston, NC with Pastor Jerry Pike officiating.