Family. In places like Wayne County, that word means so much more than blood ties and a last name. Here, it’s about bonds. And Tuesday evening, thousands of people in this community lost a brother. I feel fortunate to count…
“I’m a flippin’ hurricane!”
Editor’s Note: Back in January, Pikeville Mayor Garrett Johnston invited two town residents into his home for what turned into a nearly four-hour conversation. The purpose of the meeting was to convince one of the residents to apply for a…
Another broad-daylight murder rattles Goldsboro
Note: We have been covering Goldsboro’s gun violence crisis in our sister print publication, Wayne Week, since our Debut Edition rolled off the press June 12, 2023. In this weekend’s paper, as part of our anniversary edition, we provided an…
Guilty
His hands and feet shackled, former Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit Chief Michael Cox shuffled into a federal courtroom just before 10 Wednesday morning. He looked, briefly, across a nearly-empty gallery — one void of the family members who…
County track stars battle for bragging rights
Athletes from every high school in Wayne County converged on the University of Mount Olive for the Wayne County Track & Field Championships Monday. For the results, follow New Old North here and on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. The…
Boxing match
There was finger tapping. There were heavy sighs. There was inaudible mumbling. There were eyerolls and winks. And officials from both sides of the table, out loud, seemed to relish in what they perceived as “gotcha” moments. But beyond the…
Downtown next
It’s a late February evening in 2007 and an urban designer is addressing the Goldsboro City Council as a crowd of more than 100 local residents listens in. And as she shows off a series of drawings — sketches of…
Final Four!
Goldsboro High School is on its way to the NCHSAA Final Four — earning a trip to the 2A East Regional Championship game by defeating Fairmont 63-56. The Cougars will now face Farmville Central for the second consecutive season for…
Former teachers worry about Goldsboro High’s future
Victoria Ruffin Atkins turns and faces the several dozen teenagers standing in parallel lines on the Goldsboro High School auditorium stage. Moments earlier, they were all smiles — joking with their choral director backstage as they prepared to perform for…
Edgewood relocation plan enrages parents
Deann Poirier turns to face both the chairman of the Wayne County Board of Education and its longest tenured member. Her voice is trembling. “Honestly, you cannot look me in the eye and say if you had a kid that…