WilsonTimes.com

Academies: Success, disppointment

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:00:00 GMT

John Tyler Brumfield expected to spend this school year in smaller classes filled only with students enrolled in Hunt High School's Visual and Performing Arts Academy. It didn't work out that way. But John's not panicking. John said he's sure these disappointments are part of the kinks of the academy's first year. Interested in becoming a profess ...

In wall-to-wall academies, scheduling is the key

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:00:00 GMT

When the bell sounds signaling the start of summer vacation for high school students, Wilson County's three high school principals will start focusing on putting together student schedules for next year. Going to wall-to-wall academies means the high schools will, in effect, have students running on four different schedules. Fike High School Pri ...

Mexican industries compete

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:00:00 GMT

COSCOMATEPEC, Mexico -- Two years ago, around 120 people worked in GRUPO SEGOR's leather factory in this mountain town. Today, the company has on average 25-30 workers crafting saddles and other equestrian gear with intricate one-of-a-kind details. There are orders to fill, but the family-owned company has a constant problem finding and keeping s ...

Parallels seen between tobacco farmers, coffee growers

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:00:00 GMT

XICO, Mexico -- Planted in practically every available spot under the canopies of larger banana trees, coffee plants cover the hills surrounding the Ursulo Galvan Colony here. For years, coffee growers in this small mountain town have focused their attention on producing a good crop and securing the best possible price at market for their hand-har ...

265 grads earn WCC degrees

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:00:00 GMT

"It's your world now." That was the final statement of one of the first graduates of Wilson Community College as he addressed the WCC Class of 2008 Friday evening at Fike High School. The auditorium was packed with wives, husbands, siblings and proud parents as 265 Wilson Community College graduates representing 283 degrees and diplomas walked ac ...

Sales tax increases go down

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:00:00 GMT

When Wilson County voters rejected a sales-tax increase this week, they joined a tax backlash across the state. Twenty-four N.C. counties had either sales or land-transfer tax options on the ballots Tuesday, but only two passed -- sales-tax increases in Cumberland and Haywood counties. John Locke Foundation president John Hood called the results ...

Coalition to meet Tuesday

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:00:00 GMT

The realities of drug use by Wilson teens will be discussed during the annual meeting of the Wilson County Substance Abuse Coalition Tuesday. The coalition meeting, which is open to the public, will be at noon at Bill's Barbecue. Reservations are required. Call 237-1242. The annual meeting will include a presentation of a recently conducted PRID ...

High fuel prices to blame for increase in stamp prices

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:00:00 GMT

Beginning Monday it will cost a penny more to mail a letter. William Lloyd, Wilson postmaster, said prices for first-class stamps will increase from 41 cents to 42 cents. High fuel prices are just one reason the stamp rates are rising, Lloyd said. "The Postal Service has the largest fleet in the United States," he said. "That is a tremendous cos ...

Crash victims identified as Fla. couple

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:00:00 GMT

A middle-aged couple from Estero, Fla., was traveling to Connecticut Thursday when their private plane crashed in a rural community near Snow Hill. Mark J. Sobel and his wife, Joan Wilson, died in the crash, Greene County Sheriff Lemmie Smith said Friday. Their identities were confirmed after Smith received a call from a relative, Len Baum. Identi ...

Military Personnel News

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:00:00 GMT

Rick Vendetti Rick Vendetti, has been awarded the Bronze Star for meritous service from April 4, 2004 to Sept. 6, 2004, while assigned as provost marshal and iInternational zone security operations officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is the son of Victor and Sharon Barnes of Wilson. He is a 1983 graduate of Fike High School. Patrick ...

District Court

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:00:00 GMT

Wilson County District Court Robert A. Evans, Presiding Sprinkle/Stadiem, Prosecutors April 7, 2008 Session * Jose H. Acosta -- expired registration card/tag, fictitious/cancelled/revoked registration card/tag, both consolidated, voluntarily dismissed; * Antonio D. Barnes -- misdemeanor gambling, 30 days WCJ, suspended six months, pay fine of ...

Building Permits

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:00:00 GMT

The City of Wilson issued $6,248,452 in building permits during the month of March, 2008. The following are the new construction permits and the commercial alterations/additions of more than $50,000: * C. A. Lewis Inc., 2503 Forest Hills Road W. Suite A, $1,036,746, new commercial * Triangle Biofuels Industries, 1724 Baldree Road S., $50,000, com ...

Deed Transfers

Sat, 10 May 2008 03:00:00 GMT

The following deed transfers for the week of April 28 - May 2, 2008, have been recorded in the Wilson County Register of Deeds Office: * SurgeCenter of Wilson, SC Wilson LLC to Surgery Center of Wilson LLC, 1709 Medical Park Drive, $1,241,000; * Westhaven Developers LLC, David W. Woodard to Letchworth Builders Inc., Lot 12 Section Two, Westhaven, ...

Granny walks, prays for America

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:04:00 GMT

As a little girl, Lyn Hanush said she dreamed of bicycling across the United States. Hanush is now 66, a grandmother and great-grandmother, and she is making her way through Wilson County this week on her fourth trek across a part of the United States. Not on a bike, however, but on her feet. The purpose of the walk, which she began in Ormond Be ...

2 killed when private plane crashes in Greene County

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:04:00 GMT

SNOW HILL -- Two people were killed Thursday when a homebuilt airplane crashed in Greene County, authorities said. Patty McQuillan, spokeswoman for the state Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, said emergency officials reported that the pilot said he had icing on the wings. The plane disappeared from radar and lost radio contact, she sa ...

College, public schools seek more funding

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:04:00 GMT

Wilson County commissioners listened to the final formal budget presentations from school and college officials Thursday night. Rusty Stephens, president of Wilson Community College, and Larry Price, Wilson County schools superintendent, presented their requests for 2008-09 just two days after voters rejected a sales tax increase that would have p ...

Mental health advocates want facility reopened

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:04:00 GMT

Mental health advocates are concerned that Wilson Medical Center's psychiatric unit, New Foundations, is still closed after five months, and mental health patients have to leave the Wilson community to receive services. Hospital officials say they are working to reopen the facility. In April, Mental Health Association Board President Gail Moore a ...

Sri Lanka night held at club meeting

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:04:00 GMT

If you're not careful, monkeys will steal your food. This is just one of the things that Sri Lankan native Udeshi Kotuwegedera shared about Sri Lanka with about 40 people gathered at the St. Alphonsus African Ancestry Ministry Thursday night for Around the World in Wilson's Sri Lanka night. Around the World in Wilson is a group that was formed by ...

Local Christian singer conquers milestones in her career

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:04:00 GMT

I had almost forgotten how enchanting her voice was. But as I slipped the new Meredith Andrews CD into my player, I was instantly reminded. A lot has changed for the 2001 Wilson Christian graduate, but her voice is still one that captures your attention and calls you to listen. Last week, Meredith was in town visiting her parents, Bill and Becky ...

Fike student plans Field Day

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:04:00 GMT

Fike High School Senior Kevin Smith is holding a UNICEF Action for Africa Field Day on Saturday, May 17, from 3-6 p.m. at the school. The event will feature a variety of activities including a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, 3-legged race and even karaoke. Admission is $2 for ages 12 and above and $1 for ages one to 11. Kevin is required to comple ...

Crime Watch

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:04:00 GMT

Residential Larcenies * New Street S., between 5 p.m. May 3 and 9:30 a.m. Sunday, hub caps worth $630; * Green Street E., 9:57 a.m. Sunday, copper worth $300, front/rear window damage worth $100, air conditioning unit damage worth $2,500; * Stedman Drive N.W., between 7:30-10:16 p.m. Sunday, 42-inch plasma TV worth $1,500; * Kauffman Court E., ...

Mayor's name added to Tasman Towers

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:46:00 GMT

Mayor Bruce Rose took a step back, shook his head and smiled after he saw his name on a new sign at the Wilson Housing Authority's Tasman Towers. "What a great day for me," Rose said, during a dedication ceremony Wednesday. "Even when I was growing up in the streets of Wilson, I never dreamed that I would have become the mayor. Never did I dream t ...

To save gas, some take the train

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:50:00 GMT

As the peak season for travel nears, more and more people are deciding to keep their cars at home and ride the rails to their destinations. High gasoline prices have fueled an increase in the number of people taking Amtrak trains in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Pat Simmions, rail director for NCDOT ...

Ag commissioner lauds pesticide program

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:46:00 GMT

Steve Troxler, N.C. commissioner of agriculture, kicked off his campaign for re-election early by visiting Wilson Wednesday, hard on the heels of the primary election. Troxler, who was sworn in Feb. 8, 2005, becoming the first Republican commissioner of agriculture, spoke to about 200 farmers at Bill's Barbecue Restaurant before taking time out fr ...

Daylight Savings throws voting machines

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:49:00 GMT

Election poll workers at three precincts had trouble closing out voting machines Tuesday night because internal clocks were never reset for daylight-saving time. By the time the polls closed at 7:30 p.m., poll workers learned that a few of the clocks read 6:30 p.m. The problem was found after workers were unable to close down the machines. Ann Co ...

Tarleton wins writing award

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:49:00 GMT

Daily Times opinion editor Hal Tarleton received one of 15 Awards of Outstanding Merit from the Amy Foundation for his Feb. 3, 2007, column "Rise in Atheism Includes Condescending Attitude Towards People of Faith." The annual Amy Awards recognize writing that presents "in a sensitive, thought-provoking manner the Biblical position on issues affect ...

Barton chooses commencement speaker

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:49:00 GMT

Richard Ekman, president of the Council of Independent Colleges, will deliver the commencement address Sunday, May 18, at Barton College. The event starts at 1:30 p.m. on center campus. In the event of rain, commencement will be held in Wilson Gymnasium. Ekman has served in this national leadership role since 2000. He previously served as vice pr ...

Child's curiosity could have started fire on Rasberry

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:00:00 GMT

A child's curiosity and a cigarette lighter are suspected to have started a fire at 3913 Rasberry Drive Tuesday evening. Mike Brown, battalion commander with Wilson Fire and Rescue Services, said the fire began on a bed when the sheets and comforter were ignited. Charles and Cecil Edwards, who rent the dwelling, were at home when the blaze began. ...

Town Talk

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:46:00 GMT

NASH COUNTY Several citizens graduated from the Nash County Citizens Academy and were recognized at a Nash County commissioners meeting Monday. Graduates are Autry Lamm, Cephus Ray and Albert Richardson of Bailey, Sherry Miller of Middlesex and Bert Daniel and Terri Peete of Spring Hope. During the academy, participants learned about various gov ...

Crime Watch

Thu, 08 May 2008 09:46:00 GMT

The Wilson Police Department handled the following calls recently: Residential Larcenies * Ash Street E., between 10:45 p.m. April 27 and 7:30 a.m. April 28, rocking chair with cushion worth $100 * Green St. E., between 5 p.m. April 30 and 1:30 a.m. May 1, Rotweiler/chow puppy worth $100 * Nash St. E., between 5 p.m. April 29 and 9:22 a ...

Wilson Democrats favor Obama

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:36:00 GMT

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama easily won the N.C. Democratic primary Tuesday, bringing him closer to his party's nomination for president. Obama captured over 56 percent of the vote across the state while U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton had 41 percent. The Illinois senator did even better in Wilson, where he had spoken a week earlier to a packed gymnasium at ...

Voters reject sales tax increase

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:33:00 GMT

Wilson County voters decidedly shut down a proposed quarter-cent sales tax increase Tuesday during a lackluster local primary election. The sales tax referendum, which county commissioners voted in a split decision to put on the ballot, lost by 7,786 votes out of 16,896 that were cast, a margin of 73 percent against and 27 in support. Since the t ...

Workers had a busy day

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:33:00 GMT

Wilson poll workers described Election Day as busy and long. Out of nearly 50,000 registered voters in Wilson, around 19,000 or 38 percent of all eligible voters cast their votes Tuesday in the primary election. But while the voting appeared to go off without a hitch, the county's results were delayed for hours Tuesday night by technical problem ...

Nash: Tax hike a no

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:33:00 GMT

Voters in Nash County, like those in Wilson and Wayne counties, overwhelmingly defeated a quarter-cent sales tax increase Tuesday. More than 60 percent of the voters who cast ballots in the sales tax referendum, 14,722, voted against it. About 39 percent of the votes cast, 9,326, supported the sales tax increase, which would have generated about $ ...

Wayne says NO

Wed, 07 May 2008 10:36:00 GMT

Wayne County voters overwhelmingly defeated a proposed quarter-cent sales tax increase Tuesday, with more than 80 percent of the voters casting a no ballot. Overall, 18,669 people voted against the proposed 0.25 sales tax increase, and just 4,012 were in favor of it. If the referendum had passed, the increase could have generated about $2.4 milli ...

Accessories part of drug roundup

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:27:00 GMT

Two men who were arrested Friday in connection with a bank robbery at the downtown BB&T had both been let out of jail just days earlier. Travis Lee Anderson and James Arthur Taylor Jr. were both arrested and charged on April 27 for possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, possession of cocaine and maintaining a place, dwelling or a ...

New grocer hands out donations

Wed, 07 May 2008 10:52:00 GMT

"You've gotta do not only what's in the best interest for you and your business, but you also have to do what's best for the community," said Ron Dennis, president and chief operating officer of Farm Fresh. That was Dennis' message for Wilson residents Tuesday evening at a reception for community leaders. The store's grand opening for the public ...

Farm Fresh opens

Wed, 07 May 2008 10:37:00 GMT

Hundreds of people formed a line all the way down the strip center at Gateway Plaza this morning to be the first shoppers at Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy. "I can't believe there's this many people out here," said Debbie Glover, who waited in line to buy some of the sale items and see what else the store offered. "I'm looking for a bargain. The ...

Last-minute idea: Tour stately homes today on Woodard Circle

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:30:00 GMT

I know this is short notice, but I just found out about a mini homes tour that will take place this afternoon at three of the houses on Woodard Circle. That's off Goldsboro Street before the train tracks. So, if you've ever waited for the train, or driven or walked by, and wondered what those nice, big, old houses looked like inside, here's your c ...

Voters dump four state legislators

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:27:00 GMT

RALEIGH -- At least four state House members apparently won't be back next year after losing primary elections Tuesday. Reps. Drew Saunders, D-Mecklenburg; Mary McAllister, D-Cumberland; Karen Ray, R-Iredell; and Joe Boylan, R-Moore, all lost their races to primary challengers, according to complete, unofficial results. In Wilson-area legislative ...

Pittenger, Dalton win crowded primaries for lt. governor

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:27:00 GMT

RALEIGH -- A pair of state senators -- Republican Robert Pittenger and Democrat Walter Dalton -- will face each other this fall in the race for lieutenant governor after winning party primaries in Tuesday's election. Both men were easy primary winners in Wilson County, each with better than 50 percent of the vote. There was no such resolution in t ...

Statewide Results

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:26:00 GMT

Lt. Governor Dem - Primary (99% of precincts reporting) Walter Dalton 45% Hampton Dellinger 34% Pat Smathers 14% Dan Besse 7% Lt. Governor GOP - Primary (99% of precincts reporting) Robert Pittenger 59% Jim Snyder 19% Timothy Cook 12% Greg Dorit 10% Auditor Democrat - Primary (99% of precincts reporting) Beth Wood 64% ...

Jones turns back GOP challenger

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:23:00 GMT

Two Republicans representing Wilson County in Congress easily turned back primary opponents Tuesday. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, U.S. Rep. Walter Jones had 60 percent of the vote in the 3rd Congressional District. Challenger Joe McLaughlin, a former Onslow County commissioner, lost 14 out of 17 counties, including Wilson. U.S. Sen. E ...

Hagan cruises to win, faces Dole in November

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:23:00 GMT

RALEIGH -- Kay Hagan celebrated her victory in Tuesday's U.S. Senate primary with an invitation. The state senator from Greensboro, who moves from an easy primary win to what promises to be a grueling general election matchup against incumbent GOP Sen. Elizabeth Dole, implored supporters of former rival Jim Neal to join her ranks. "I want to invi ...

Planning Board backs additional senior living opportunities

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:20:00 GMT

The Wilson Planning Board made a pair of decisions Tuesday that could lead to more senior living opportunities in the city. The Planning Board will recommend to the Wilson City Council the rezoning of two small pieces of land that will help Spring Arbor of Wilson with its expansion plans. The rezoning includes 0.09 acres from a professional offic ...

November Ballot Matchups

Wed, 07 May 2008 10:52:00 GMT

THESE ARE the races on this fall's ballot (D=Democrats, R=Republicans, incumbents are in italics): President: D: Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton; R: John McCain U.S. House, 1st District: D: G.K. Butterfield, Wilson; R: Dean Stephens, Colerain 2nd District: D: Bob Etheridge, Lillington; R: Dan Mansell, Selma 3rd District: R: Walt ...

It's Perdue vs. McCrory in November

Wed, 07 May 2008 10:52:00 GMT

The race for North Carolina's next governor was cut Tuesday from eight to two -- Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. Both candidates handily won their statewide primaries, although Wilson County voters did not like them as much as did N.C. voters as a group. Perdue beat State Treasurer Richard Moore in the Democratic primary. ...

Wilsonians overwhelmingly defeat sales tax

Tue, 06 May 2008 23:18:00 GMT

By a nearly 3-1 margin, Wilson County voters overwhelmingly rejected a quarter-cent sales tax increase that would have provided county commissioners with an extra $2.1 million in revenue. With all of the county's precincts reporting, 12,341 people voted against the sales tax increase, while only 4,555 people voted for it. Wilson County voters joi ...

Wilson voters support Obama in presidential primary

Tue, 06 May 2008 23:24:00 GMT

Wilson County voters helped Sen. Barack Obama sweep to victory in North Carolina by delivering him the county with 62 percent of the vote. With all Wilson County precincts reporting, Obama captured 9,556 votes and his rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, received 5,474 votes, about 36 percent of the total. In the Repu ...

Perdue, McCrory win nominations for NC governor

Tue, 06 May 2008 22:36:00 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory won their party's nominations for governor Tuesday, and will compete this fall to succeed outgoing Gov. Mike Easley. With a little over two-thirds of precincts reporting unofficial results, Perdue had 55 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary. State Treasurer Rich ...