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Teen grows green, gives back

It’s a season of growth for Kinston teenager Killen Harper as she celebrates six months of her unique non-profit organization, Carolina Greens. Since January 2021, Killen has turned her family’s backyard on Stockton Rd. into a compact, productive garden growing vegetables she donates to Mary’s Kitchen and Greenville’s JOY Soup Kitchen.

Your Shot at a Million: Governor Cooper Announces $4 Million Summer Cash and College Tuition Drawings to Encourage COVID-19 Vaccinations

RALEIGH: As part of North Carolina’s effort to encourage more North Carolinians to receive COVID-19 vaccines, Governor Roy Cooper announced $4 Million Summer Cash and College Tuition drawings to motivate those who have not yet been vaccinated — and thank those who have. Four vaccinated North Carolinians 18 and older will win $1 million each and four North Carolinians ages 12 to 17 will win tuition for post-secondary education. Executive Order 219, which has concurrence from the North Carolina Council of State, authorizes the drawings.

Ground breaking held for second Wyse Fork Fire Station

Wyse Fork Fire Department broke ground at 1155 Neuse Road in Kinston for their second fire station on Monday.

“Today is the groundbreaking on our station two for Wyse Fork department,” said Wyse Fork Chief Donnie Gray Jr. “It’s going to serve as an immediate resource to this area of our fire district.”

Gray hopes the building is completed in time for hurricane season.

“The significance of this station is that, in the last hurricanes that we've had, particularly Caswell Station Road and then Causey Road, have flooded and we've had to do a lot of boat rescues,” said Lenoir County Commissioner J. Mac Daughety.

Kinston City Council set to increase property taxes and seeks own pay raise second year in a row

Kinston City manager Tony Sears released his budget recommendations to Council at the meeting on June 1, 2021. A proposed increase in Property Tax from $0.73 to $0.77 per $100 valuation is included in the 2021-2022 City Budget. The budget also includes a $3,600 increase to the Mayor’s salary and the total line item increase in City Council members’ salaries is $18,000 total per year, also $3,600 each for the year. This is more than a 40% increase over previous years. In addition to the salary increases, the Board Member Allowance increased 44.98% to $19,422.

“The City Council and myself worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mayor Hardy. “When you start talking about advocating resources for vaccinations and food drives, COVID-19 testing, and organizing boots on the ground trying to get people vaccinated.”