Every grade school field day has the same fixture: That one person in charge—usually the PE Teacher—with the bullhorn to amplify their voice so all will hear.
All in Columns
Mike Parker: BBQ FEST takes aim at world record
Kinston is gearing up for our area’s largest festival of the year – BBQ Festival on the Neuse. On part of Thursday and Friday and all-day Saturday, the extended Herritage Street downtown area will be packed with activities for all ages.
Kristy Kelly: The day mom disappeared
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.
Evelyn Dove Coleman: The Cage Lock
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.
Mike Parker: First 2025 ‘Breakfast on the Boat’ set for Saturday, April 26
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.
Mike Parker: An Evening Out with ‘The Old Guard’
Last Wednesday evening, I was blessed to eat dinner with three of my older grandchildren. Those of you who have read my column for years will remember that I have two sets of grandkids. The “Old Guard” are my first four: Courtney, Haley, Taylor, and Jaxen. The “Young Guns” are the last eight: Isaiah, Abby, Alex, Ben, Hannah, Laney, Alli, and Luke.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Bugs isn’t the only one who can benefit from carrots!
Bugs Bunny loves carrots but we should too! It is common knowledge that eating carrots is great for your eye sight, but they have so much more to offer! Believe it or not it is carrot season in North Carolina, generally we think of carrots mostly at Easter, but carrots are readily available year round and very good for you!!
Kristy Kelly: When Did Life Get So Weird?
In what feels like another life, my days were strategically planned around working the required eight hours, and then going home to tend to little humans in various stages of chaos. I understood the assignment. As long as they didn’t die of starvation or filicide, I was doing a good job. That was my parenting barometer — survival.
Mike Parker: Fourth Renaissance Faire transports back in time
The Lenoir County Fairgrounds may not have a TARDIS or Star Trek Transporter, but during April 12 and 13, you can be whisked back in time to when King Arthur ruled from Camelot and his knights took their place at the roundtable.
Evelyn Dove Coleman: A Perspective...
Years ago, as I saw the tears at the end of former President George W. Bush's tribute to his late father, former President George H.W. Bush, I related to that son. His father died at the age of 94, and my father, William Lee Dove, died at the age of 94. Ninety-four seems like a long life such as Psalm 91 promises. But it still can feel way too short.
Kristy Kelly: Go hard for your own backyard
What should have been an exciting announcement about Kinston rising to the occasion and becoming a finalist for the 2025 All-American City Award turned into a gathering of the Out-of-Towner-Hater Club—egged on by people too disillusioned to see what’s in front of them.
Lesley Rigsby, RN: Words
Growing up, how many of you remember hearing someone say, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”? How untrue is this statement. Words can heal and bring forgiveness or divide and cause discord. Our words can absolutely hurt others as well as ourselves.
Bucklesberry, Back in the Day: Early Settlers–The Herrings (Part 2)
Hailing from Bertie County, N.C., the Herrings were among the first early settlers and landowners of Bucklesberry. Brothers Abraham, John, Sr., and Samuel Herring were issued land patents and surveys from 1738 to 1747 that totaled 1,525 acres.
Mike Parker: The Outer Banks ‘Paul Revere’
As we come to the close of Women’s History Month, I want to share the Outer Banks story of a midnight ride that came just a few months after Paul Revere’s ride to warn the patriots that the British were coming.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Cabbage the Budget Friendly Vegetable
If you are only adding cabbage to your menu on St. Patrick’s Day or for slaw with your seafood suppers, you are surely missing out! Cabbage is an affordable veggie that adds flavor to lots of recipes.
Mike Parker: 2nd annual ‘Spirit of Lenoir’ Festival set for April 12
Nothing warms the heart and stirs the soul like gathering with friends, family, and neighbors for a night of faith-filled music under the stars. The 2nd Annual Spirit of Lenoir Christian Music Festival will be held on Saturday, April 12 at Pearson Park in Kinston.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Cottage makes a come back
Cottage cheese has made a comeback. Cottage cheese recipes have become an unexpected viral social media trend, with good reason, cottage cheese is high in protein and calcium and is delicious and adaptable.
Evelyn Coleman Dove: how to handle hurts
I once heard someone say that the best way to handle being hurt is to express it. Keeping it bottled up on the inside only adds to the hurt. Well, true that it may be, sometimes expressing your hurt causes others to also feel hurt.
Mike Parker: Grifton Lions ready to roar for First Responders
Back in September of 2024, I wrote a column about the Grifton Lions Club planning an appreciation day for first responders. That day is quickly approaching. In fact, the “First Responders Appreciation Day” will kick off at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 22, at the Grifton Train Depot.
East Carolina University, located in Greenville, traces its origins to the East Carolina Teachers Training School, which came into existence amid substantial controversy in 1907. After competing with seven other localities, Greenville was chosen as the site for the campus, largely because of Pitt County's offer of 243 acres and $100,000 for a new facility.