H. Louie Eargle of Waxhaw and Kinston, NC, passed away September 1, 2024, in Chapel Hill of complications from a fall. He was 92 years old. Louie will be remembered as a loving uncle, an accomplished musician, raconteur, and loyal friend.

On April 23, 2025, the Kinston Police Department’s Violent Crimes Apprehension Team (VCAT), in collaboration with officers from KPD’s B-Squad, arrested Stephanie Stallings (46) following an investigation into allegations that she provided marijuana to two young children, ages 5 and 6.

From humble beginnings in La Grange, Grounded and Baked is quickly becoming a local staple across eastern North Carolina. Co-owners Brad Mitchell and Jennifer Bland are preparing to open their third location in Mount Olive, with a grand opening slated for May 30.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA–Part B, Public Law 108-446) Project is presently being amended. The Project describes the special education programs that Jones County Public Schools proposes for federal funding for the 2025–2026 school year.

The Kinston Police Department would like to inform the public that 18-year-old Jai’quez Bond was taken into custody early this morning by the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office.

A Kinston man was arrested Monday on multiple drug charges by the narcotics unit of the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office.

At about 3:45 AM, I knew I was in no condition to go to work. I held off as long as I possibly could before calling out—because calling in sick always makes me feel guilty. I flipped my phone over to keep the light from waking me and crawled back under the covers. That was the calm before everyone else’s very bad day.

Lenoir County Public Schools is proud to announce that four of its outstanding students have been selected to attend the North Carolina Governor’s School for the summer of 2025. This esteemed program, established in 1963, is the oldest of its kind in the nation and offers a unique, enriching experience for intellectually gifted high school students. 

Congratulations to Sheriff Wineman for taking home the top honors in yesterday afternoon’s “Sheriff's Showdown” at the Coastal Plains Livestock Show.

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) announced the 2025 Congressional Art Competition winners during a special ceremony held on Saturday, April 18, 2025, at his Rocky Mount office.

Over the past two weeks, I have been working in both Washington, D.C., and the district. The Trump Administration and Congress are working diligently to build an economy that helps everyone succeed, keep our communities safe, protect our national security, restore common sense in our federal government, and put the American people first.

Gaylon Pope and Sweet Water in concert on Sunday, May 4 @ 10:30 a.m. The Way Church, 1205 Lynn Drive, Kinston, NC. Covered dish lunch to follow the concert.

Mary Ann Sparrow, 74, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, April 17, 2025. Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Westview Cemetery at 1:00 PM with Pastor Chris Turner officiating. The family will receive friends at the cemetery 30 minutes before the service.

The Lenoir Community College Foundation is proud to welcome Southern Bank of Kinston as a first-time Putting Contest Sponsor of this year’s LCC Golf Classic. Since its inception, this event has raised more than $700,000 to support student scholarships at LCC.

Years ago, my cousin-by-marriage told me about a story that imitates real life.  It is called "The Howling Man" and was an episode in The Twilight Zone series.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA–Part B, Public Law 108-446) Project is presently being amended. The Project describes the special education programs that Jones County Public Schools proposes for federal funding for the 2025–2026 school year.

The Lenoir Community College Foundation is thrilled to welcome back Massey Toyota as the Hole-In-One sponsor for this year’s LCC Golf Classic. Once again, Massey Toyota is offering participants an exciting chance to win a brand-new vehicle—just one swing away from driving off in style!

With no start gun or finish line, the annual Parkinson’s Walk in Lenoir County isn’t about pace or prizes—it’s about presence, community, and support.

The CSS Neuse Foundation is hosting this year's first “Breakfast on the Boat” on April 26, 2025. The food will be ready by 7:30 a.m. on Saturday at the CSS Neuse II, the replica gunboat in dry-dock at the corner of Herritage and Gordon streets.

The following businesses were registered with the North Carolina Secretary of State:

The following is a list of people who have recently passed away in Lenoir County:

This week, we proudly recognize the incredible work of our Jones-Lenoir County public safety telecommunicators—the calm, professional voices on the other end of the line during our most critical moments.

The Lenoir Community College Foundation is proud to welcome back Piggly Wiggly Fresh Buy as a sponsor of this year’s annual LCC Golf Classic. Since its inception, this premier event has raised over $700,000 in support of student scholarships at LCC, and Piggly Wiggly Fresh Buy has been a loyal and valued supporter for many of those years.

Is now the time for that designer bag or could you do with something more basic? Is your money better off in the bank or in your pocket? Is buy now, pay later a good idea? 

The Private School Meeting is scheduled for April 30, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. with Georgia Maready, EC Director. If interested in attending the meeting please call Beth Loftin at 252-527-1109 by April 28, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to consult with private schools and parents of parentally-placed private school students as well as home schooled students.

With hurricane season approaching, Lenoir County’s new Emergency Services Director is already working to ensure the community is prepared.

Funeral-related scams are exploiting the grief and vulnerability of mourning families, according to Justin Smith, funeral director at Edwards Funeral Home. The scam, which has affected multiple North Carolina families in recent weeks, involves impostors posing as funeral directors and pressuring loved ones for last-minute payments ahead of services.

Lenoir Community College marked an exciting milestone on Friday, April 11, with the official opening of its second cosmetology lab on the college’s main campus in Kinston. Students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered to celebrate the continued growth of LCC’s cosmetology program.

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