Author: Renee Carey

Renee Carey has been an award-winning writer, editor and commentator in community newspaper markets for nearly 25 years. An Ohio native, she began her journalism career in high school, deciding then that storytelling was her calling. She honed her craft at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, earning a degree in journalism from the Honors Tutorial College. Since then, she has spent her career telling people's stories, commenting on politics and life and teaching others how to do the same — an avocation that has introduced her to thousands of people who have inspired her and taught her many lessons about integrity, courage, faith and happiness. Mrs. Carey resides in North Carolina with her husband and two dogs, Rush and Beau. You can reach her at rcarey@newoldnorth.com

September 28, 2025 No Responses

A loaded discussion

It only takes one mistake. One missed clue. One lapse of judgment. A distracted teacher or administrator. One out-of-control or troubled student who decides violence is the answer. A teenager who doesn’t think he or she has anywhere else to...

September 7, 2025 No Responses

Whichard delivered

Get ready for some good news. Some really good news. The state test results are in and Wayne County Public Schools has made significant strides. That’s right, we said “significant.” So much so, in fact, that the news is already...

March 17, 2024 No Responses

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...

January 21, 2024 No Responses

Audit should seal Salmon’s fate

There are consequences when you wait too long to make a difficult, but necessary, change, or when you accept excuse after excuse and ignore red flag after red flag. We know — and you know — by watching what has...

December 10, 2023 No Responses

Searching for servants

They are the servant generation, the hundreds of Wayne County residents who populated the community’s service organizations — leading them, guiding them, and supporting them. But they are getting older — and tired. Their numbers have dwindled, and now a....

December 3, 2023 No Responses

Housing is a fragile thing

We are all one misstep, one lost paycheck, one serious health diagnosis, one tragedy away. It could be anyone. And it is, all of us — from every background, every neighborhood. For many, it is hard to look at the...

November 26, 2023 No Responses

Presenting Goldsboro’s finest 2021-22 vintage audit

Roll out the red carpet and pop the champagne. The Goldsboro City Council has finally received its completed 2021-22 audit. But here’s the bizarre thing: the belated presentation — which came more than a year after the report was supposed...

November 12, 2023 No Responses

Dance of the facade

You have two choices when you are faced with a crisis. You can meet it head on, have the tough conversations that are necessary, address the issues your agency, government entity or public body faces and the mistakes that have...

November 5, 2023 No Responses

Vote with the GPD in mind

Sometimes, to really understand the scope of a problem, you have to stop talking about it and experience it firsthand. It is not enough to listen to statistics and analysis from your city leaders or the experts. You can’t even...

October 29, 2023 No Responses

Sounding the alarm

It is all about the kids. You have said it. We have said it. And Wayne County Public Schools has said it. Heck, it is even in their mission statement. But saying it is one thing. Living it is another....

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