Lonnie Benjamin “Ben” Rhodes, IV, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 20, 2025 at Kitty Askins Hospice Center. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at Rouse Funeral Home. A service of love and remembrance will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 24, 2025 at Rouse Funeral Home with Father Jon Sargeant presiding.
Linda Rouse Howard, 85, of Seven Springs passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The funeral will be held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Rouse Funeral Home with graveside service following at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Kinston.
James “Buddy” Marshall Rogers, 86, of Kinston, left his earthly home on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, surrounded by his family. Graveside Services will be held on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. at Pinelawn Memorial Park, in Kinston with Pastor Vito Bisogon and Pastor John Robert Harris officiating.
The Paramount Theater marquee once again bears its name after more than two decades, marking a new milestone in the building’s ongoing restoration.
On Wednesday, June 04, 2025, the Lenoir County District Attorney’s Office requested the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to investigate the suspected larceny of money from a citizen by a Kinston Police Department officer during a vehicle accident that occurred in May of 2024.
A message from the Chief of Police:
"It is with deep concern and disappointment that I confirm a former officer of the Kinston Police Department has been arrested by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in connection with an alleged theft. This matter is now under active investigation by the SBI, and we are fully cooperating with their efforts.
The Lenoir County Board of Health will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. at the Lenoir County Health Department to consider repealing its local tattoo inspection rule.
Herman “Jr” Hardison Jr., 77 years old, of Grifton, North Carolina, passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family. Graveside Services will be held on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at their family cemetery at 3487 British Rd., Kinston.
Kinston Police detectives are attempting to identify the individual in the photo in connection with an investigation into vehicle break-ins in the West Road area.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Joseph Egbert "J.E." Blizzard of Kinston, North Carolina, on Monday, August 18, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that all donations be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital of Memphis, Tennessee; The Shriners Children's Hospital; or Spilman Memorial Baptist Church of Kinston, North Carolina.
Dorothy Raper Turnage, 84, of LaGrange entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on August 16, 2025, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 22 starting at 6:00 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life service at 7:30 p.m. at Bethel Church in Kinston. Pastors Chris Truett, Bert Potter, and Allen Stocks will officiate. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 23 at 11:00 a.m. at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Kinston.
Ambleside Preparatory Academy is only a year old, but the private Christian school is already breaking ground on a new building to keep up with its rapid growth.
Lenoir County 4-H’ers Lamonie Taylor and Sanaa Thompson, both students at Kinston High School, are raising their voices and inspiring change in a special new episode of The Best Better Podcast, which launched Friday, August 15, 2025.
Raleigh, N.C. - The state’s seasonally adjusted July 2025 unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, unchanged from June’s revised rate. The national rate increased 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.2 percent.
Early Head Start slots are now available for children ages 1–3 years old (child must not turn 3 before August 30, 2025).
Mrs. Eva Faye Duke Elmore, age 79, passed away Monday afternoon, August 18th, 2025, at Greendale Forest Nursing and Rehab Center following a brief period of declining health. Funeral Services will be held graveside 11 AM Friday, August 22nd, at the Snow Hill Cemetery with the Reverend Keith Phillips officiating.
The Lenoir County Board of Commissioners met Monday, Aug. 18, recognizing county employees, local youth and a championship softball team before turning to business items that included a major grant application and courthouse renovation discussion.
On August 18, 2025, at approximately 10:18 p.m., officers with the Kinston Police Department’s B-Squad responded to the Carver Court area in reference to a report of a female subject banging on doors and stating she was “looking for someone to shoot.”
On August 16, 2025, Deputies with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division D Shift attempted to stop a motorcycle on Gray Branch Church Road in Deep Run after it was clocked at 74 mph in a 55 mph zone. The driver, identified as Toby Keith Griffin of Deep Run, continued for several miles before pulling over.
Big news in Kinston: Emma Webb Park’s new 2,000-square-foot splash pad opens today. Featuring ground sprays for easy maintenance and inclusive play, the splash pad will be open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Labor Day.
