Mon., August 3, 2020 |

77.0°, Rain Fog/Mist

WILSON’S LOCAL PRINT AND DIGITAL COMMUNITY INSTITUTION SINCE 1896

High winds, flooding possible overnight

As Tropical Storm Isaias gets closer, Wilson County is now under a tropical storm warning. The National Weather Service says to expect heavy rain and tropical storm force winds in our area this …

North Carolina officials caution residents about Isaias

RALEIGH — North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper cautioned residents on Sunday not to overlook the potential threats of Tropical Storm Isaias, which has weakened from a hurricane. Tropical storm …

Local health officials ask county residents to practice the three Ws: Wear a cloth face covering when with other people, remain 6 feet apart, avoiding close contact, and wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.

2 more coronavirus deaths bring Wilson County's death toll to 35

Two more Wilson Assisted Living residents have died in association with COVID-19, making six deaths at the long-term care facility this week, county health officials said Friday. The …

Cooper declares state of emergency for NC ahead of Hurricane Isaias

Now is the time to prepare. That’s the message Gov. Roy Cooper emphasized Friday as he declared a state of emergency for North Carolina ahead of Hurricane …

Mahalia and Ryan Witter-Merithew celebrate Casita Brewing Co.'s future home at 217 South St. with a cake from Treat Yo' Self Bakery. The business plans to open at the end of August or early September. Two collaboration beers with the nearby bakery are already in the works.

Changes brewing near Whirligig Park: Casita to replace 217 Brew Works

Casita Brewing Co. owners Ryan and Mahalia Witter-Merithew plan to spend the next month transforming 217 South St. into the embodiment of their brand, and their first order of business once the doors …

Sunflowers are blooming in the sunflower maze Collin Blalock has opened at Collin's Produce, 5806 Blalock Road outside Wilson.

Sunflower maze blooms for Blalock

Collin Blalock is hoping Hurricane Isaias will leave his sunflowers alone. Blalock, who owns Collin’s Produce, planted 7 acres of sunflowers and cut a maze through the field. The maze opened …

Ten-year-old Shanya Carter of Wilson works on her Chromebook in a remote learning classroom at The SPOT.

The SPOT to open remote learning lab

The SPOT has announced plans to open a remote learning center for 120 students on Aug. 17 Matt Edwards, executive director of The SPOT and Wilson Youth United, said Peace Church is partnering with …

Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf Director Michele Handley demonstrates the remote instruction students will receive for at least the first month of school.

Eastern NC School for the Deaf to open with remote learning

Students at the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf will begin the year with fully remote learning. Director Michele Handley said the first day of school will be Aug. 17. Handley said …

Portia Jenkins feeds her completed ballot into the machine to be counted Feb. 13 on the first day of early voting for the March 3 primary.

Wilson County seeks state approval for 3 early voting sites

Wilson County Board of Elections members didn’t reach a unanimous decision on early voting sites, but the 3-2 recommendation will be sent to the state for approval Friday. “Our …

Michelle Edwards, Wilson County Schools technology coordinator, "enrolls" some of the more than 400 new Chromebooks bound for elementary and middle schools for the upcoming nine weeks of remote learning due to COVID-19.

Remote learning is virtually face-to-face: Students will be graded, checked for attendance

For Wilson County Schools students engaged in remote learning this fall, attendance will be recorded, grades will be issued and there will be daily, face-to-face virtual contact with teachers. …

Tips lead Wilson County deputies to 5 drug arrests

LUCAMA — Authorities say a multi-team investigation led to drug arrests over a two-day period following numerous tips and complaints from Lucama residents. “The complaints …

Veteran and volunteer Harry Pender delivers a food box to a Veterans Residential Services of Wilson client during a recent distribution. The Wilson nonprofit is seeking assistance as its food pantry runs low.

Veterans Residential Services of Wilson requests food donations

Veterans Residential Services of Wilson has continued to help local veterans throughout the COVID-19 crisis. VRSW is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves veterans of Wilson and …

VIDEO

Pair of costly innings ends Team Elite’s season, 14-4

GOLDSBORO — Quickly falling into the losers bracket of a double-elimination baseball tournament can send chills down the spine of any pitching staff. To escape that purgatory, there must be …

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LOCAL HEADLINES

Community supports Landon Davis with birthday parade

New COVID-19 continue in Wilson County, but recoveries are increasing

Wilson Medical Center adapts to COVID-19 pandemic: Community’s cooperation can help stop the spread

Fat & Skinnys food truck gets creative

Workers transfer from BB&T towers

Nash County reports 13th coronavirus death

Pray for hope to fight pandemic fears

Free Weathercast: Isaias' eye may pass between Wilson and Greenville

Weathercast: Will Isaias washout follow hot weekend?

Pet of the week: Nxyee

College offers free customized training for industries

Darden Alumni Association awards scholarships

Nash County reports 12th coronavirus death, 1,000th confirmed case

Deed transfers: Who bought, sold property in Wilson County?

Community briefs: Grant applications due Aug. 11

Report highlights hospital’s impact on Wilson

Firefighters receive safety initiative funding

Unemployment drops in Wilson, across state

4 COVID-19 patients die in 2 days

Wilson County Public Library announces new books

Barton announces president’s and dean’s lists for 2020 spring semester

Wilson County DSS earns award for opioid crisis response

Food giveaway raises awareness of census

Work begins on arts council building

Marked as delivered

Nash schools to start with online learning

County sees 33rd COVID-19-related death Wednesday

The SPOT serves 200,000th meal

Don’t let the heat make you sick: Stay hydrated and take breaks to cool down

Deputies make sex crimes arrests

More local news

SPOTTED: Greater Wilson Rotary Park 2020

#ICYMI - IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Linda Cooper-Suggs waves at supporters Saturday after a Wilson County Democratic Party Executive Committee meeting to replace Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield. Members voted to recommend Cooper-Suggs to fill the remainder of Farmer-Butterfield's unexpired term and to face Republican Mick Rankin for the House District 24 seat in November.

Dems send Cooper-Suggs to General Assembly

From an initial pool of nine candidates, Linda Cooper-Suggs was selected Saturday to represent District 24 in the N.C. House and to face off against Republican Mick Rankin to retain the …

Shown is an envelope containing a 2020 census letter mailed to a U.S. resident last month.

Wanted: Census responses for 4 in 10 Wilsonians

There’s still time to get counted for the 2020 census. This week, the U.S. Census Bureau will send out postcards reminding households to fill out the 2020 census if they haven’t …

Wilson County joins a growing number of library systems going fine-free in response to American Library Association recommendations.

4,000 patrons pardoned as Wilson library system phases out fines

It’s official — the Wilson County Public Library system has gone fine-free. Library patrons will no longer be issued fines if they miss a due date for material returns, and all …

Wilson Mayor Carlton Stevens holds the Bible as Former N.C. Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield is sworn into office as a member of the North Carolina Employment Security Board of Review Friday by North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley. Supporter Bill Myers is at right. Drew C. Wilson | Times

Officials applaud Farmer-Butterfield’s service: Longtime legislator joins state employment review board

Championed as a compassionate, caring professional by a parade of lawmakers, judges and fellow citizens, former state representative Jean Farmer-Butterfield raised her hand Friday and took the oath …

A sea of faces floods Goldsboro Street for the first day of the N.C. Whirligig Festival in 2019.

COVID-19 pandemic forces Wilson's NC Whirligig Festival to go virtual

The N.C. Whirligig Festival, which brings around 30,000 visitors to downtown Wilson each November, will not be held in person this year. Instead, the Nov. 7-8 event is going virtual, all because of …

SLICES OF LIFE

Playing with the puppies

Irma Molina plays with her three puppies, Nico, Z and Zeus, in the Toisnot Reservoir dog park on Saturday. Molina was there with her husband Darwia to run their young German shepherd and Siberian husky mix puppies.

Routing the runners

Barbara Taylor, a Wilson County resident who lives on Hornes Church Road, weaves fresh butterbean runners back through the vines in her garden under the hot sun Thursday. "Last year we didn't have much luck, but this year looks a lot better," Taylor said. "We planted the runner kind because they are easier to pick."

The last angler

Wilson resident Anthony Edwards fishes on Lake Wilson as the amber hues of sunset fade away on July 15.

Changing the marquee

Bella Johnson, an Arts Council of Wilson volunteer and intern, changes the Edna Boykin Cultural Center marquee on Sunday to promote the art show "Healing" by Juan Carlos Duron-Martinez.

Sunset on the pier

Brenly Yencho and Patricia Luy, both of Wilson, sit on a pier together as the sunset fades away over Lake Wilson on July 15.

Catching air at the skate park

Nine-year-old Brooks Johnson of Wilson performs skateboard tricks while his father Brandon Johnson takes pictures of daughter Bria Johnson, 14, at the Toisnot Park skate park Sunday.

'Push me, Mommy'

Rachel Kimbrell of Wilson pushes her 2-year-old daughter Penelope Brock on the swing Sunday at Toisnot Park.

Father and son time

Darnell Jackson and his son Trevien enjoy an afternoon of fishing in Wilson as rainwater spills over the Wiggins Mill dam on June 17.

Playtime at the park

Danny and Heather Stapp of Wilson play ball with their sons, 5-year-old Jackson and 2-year-old Carter, on the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park stage.

Trail riders

Families mount up for a ride together near the city of Wilson's Equestrian Trail at the end of Sullivan Road near the Buckhorn Reservoir banks in late April.

Calling the play

Wilson Rough Riders football player Kuvante Griffin, right, and brothers Jay and Dominique Hinnant practice on the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park grass Sunday.

Fishing the Buckhorn Reservoir

Stephen Chambers and son Kaiden Chambers bring in a fish while angling on the Buckhorn Reservoir at the end of Johnson Farm Road outside Kenly in rural Wilson County.

Feathered friends

Sisters Morgan and Megan Hall feed the Canada geese at the Toisnot Reservoir on Sunday.

A lazy afternoon

Dillon Lee of Stantonsburg and Kristen Henderson of Wilmington relax in the grass at downtown Wilson's Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park.

Paddling on Lake Wilson

Kayakers Jessica Phillips, Martha Jo Stanley, Tammy Hooks and Summer Hooks paddle onto a placid Lake Wilson on Sunday.

Family enjoys fishing trip

His hands full, Emerson Watford helps his wife Kiara and their children, Tiffany, Xavier, Emily and Kinsley, rig their fishing poles at Wilson's Toisnot Reservoir on Sunday.

A stroll in the park

A couple walks hand-in-hand around Lake Wilson Park on Sunday afternoon.

Waiting for a bite

As the Town Creek's tannin-colored backwaters creep by, Alvin Williams and his 6-year-old fishing buddy Kevin Johnson of Elm City angle for freshwater fish off the new 75-foot-long bridge finished in April along Rock Quarry Road near Elm City.

Fishing for that pot of gold

Abraham Alonzo of Wilson, an avid fisherman around the local fishing holes, walks his tricycle up South Street as a rainbow arcs toward the ground ahead last Friday.

Wedding on the run

Alexander Hayman of Boston, left, and Suzanne Michalak of Durham walk down the steps of the Wilson County Register of Deeds after getting their marriage license Monday afternoon just in time for their wedding Monday night at the home of her parents, Daniel and Paul Michalak of Wilson. The couple had planned to hold and Asheville wedding, but that had to be canceled due to COVID-19. "We didn't want to wait another year to get married," the bride said. His parents are Bill and Radhia Hayman of Houston.

WEATHERCAST

Weathercast: Isaias' eye may pass between Wilson and Greenville

Free Whether or not Isaias comes ashore near the North Carolina-South Carolina border as a strong tropical storm or marginal hurricane, the Wilson Times area appears set for high winds and very heavy …

More jobs

FELONY ARRESTS

Richard Anderson Banks

Sex: Male Age: 70 Charge: 1) Fail Register Sex Offender (F) and 2) Free Text-misdemeanor (M), Arrested on: 8/3/20 08:30am Arrested at: 700-BLK Black Creek Rd, Wilson, NC

Cody Allen Driver

Sex: Male Age: 30 Charge: 1) Poss Of Firearm By Felon (F), 2) Discharge Firearm City (M), and 3) False Report To Police Stati (M), Arrested on: 8/1/20 19:50pm Arrested at: 800-BLK …

Danny Shaheem Lewis

Sex: Male Age: 31 Charge: 1) Larceny (M), 2) Larceny-aid & Abet (M), 3) Larceny (M), 4) Larceny (M), 5) Larceny (M), 6) Larceny (M), 7) Possession Of Cocaine-felony (F), and 8) Free …

Eric Hakeem A Boykin

Sex: Male Age: 29 Charge: 1) Pwisd/marijuana (F), 2) Maintain Place Controlled Sb (F), and 3) Fail To Appear-misdemean (M), Arrested on: 7/31/20 21:00pm Arrested at: 1500-BLK Thorne …

James Daniel Soutar

Sex: Male Age: 31 Charge: Larceny By Employee, F (F), Arrested on: 7/31/20 20:50pm Arrested at: 100-BLK Goldsboro St E, Wilson, NC

Stevie Earl Peterkin

Sex: Male Age: 50 Charge: 1) Poss Drug Paraphernalia (M) and 2) Possess Sch Ii Cs (F), Arrested on: 7/31/20 19:15pm Arrested at: 400-BLK Lane St Se, Wilson, NC

Jaquan Demarcus Williams

Sex: Male Age: 21 Charge: Possess Stolen Firearm, F (F), Arrested on: 7/31/20 17:28pm Arrested at: 100-BLK Green St E, Wilson, NC

Dakota Hadley Liles

Sex: Male Age: 18 Charge: 1) Possession Stolen Vehicle (F), 2) Possess Sch Ii Cs (F), and 3) Poss Drug Paraphernalia (M), Arrested on: 7/31/20 17:00pm Arrested at: 100-BLK Green St E, …

Lamont Montrell Graham

Sex: Male Age: 25 Charge: 1) Larceny Of Motor Vehicle (F) and 2) Obt Prop False Pre>=$100,000 (F), Arrested on: 7/31/20 08:20am Arrested at: 2200-BLK Banks Ln E, Wilson, NC

Aaron Ward Mccullen

Sex: Male Age: 39 Charge: 1) Possess Methamphetamine (F), 2) Poss Drug Paraphernalia (M), 3) Carrying Concealed Gun (M), 4) Free Text-misdemeanor (M), and 5) Fict/cncl/rev Reg Card/tag …

Most recent videos:

Wilson Team Elite right-hander Chad Bean worked 6 2/3 innings and allowed five hits to keep his team in the 2020 Independent Summer League tournament with a 7-4 win over the Kinston Battleships in the first game of two Tuesday at Eastern Carolina Athletic Park.

An arms race: Strong pitching performances keep Team Elite season alive

GOLDSBORO — Wilson Team Elite has spent a good portion of the 2020 independent summer league baseball season being dictated to on an … Read More

Members of the Wide Awake Riders pedal along Nash Street to bring attention to voter registration on Monday.

Riders saddle up for voter registration

Wilson’s Wide Awake Riders rode for registration Monday — voter registration, that is. “Our ancestors fought very hard to … Read More

Peninsula's Tommy Bell, right, slides in safely as the throw to Wilson Tobs catcher Brady Garrison is far too late in the ninth inning of Saturday's Coastal Plain League game in Fleming Stadium. Garrison homered in the third inning, but the Tobs saw their four-game winning streak ended with a 7-2 loss.

Bullpen falters as Tobs win streak ended by Pilots

Twelve Coastal Plain League games are now in the books for the Wilson Tobs, and the Peninsula Pilots team they encountered to open the … Read More

Jared Carr (6) greets Damon Dues at home plate after Carr slugged his CPL-leading eighth home run of the 2020 season Thursday night against the Martinsville Mustangs at Fleming Stadium. The Tobs won 6-0.

Tobs record 17 strikeouts, corral Mustangs 6-0

For the bulk of the 2020 season for the Wilson Tobs, the focus has been on a rampaging offense that has had little trouble threatening … Read More

Pigs walk around the Custom Quality Packers building after they were let out of the burning building Wednesday. Drew C. Wilson | Times

Fire consumes meatpacking plant

BAILEY — Firefighters from 11 departments spanning three counties fought a stubborn fire Wednesday at the Custom Quality Packers … Read More

RESTORATION NEWSMEDIA

THE ENTERPRISE

Nash County reports 11th coronavirus death as case count reaches 880

NASHVILLE — Public health officials have reported the 11th death associated with COVID-19 in Nash County. The patient, a man in his early 70s who also had other health problems, died on July …

Insurance company probing Bailey hog plant fire

Spring Hope board to weigh zoning change to allow new downtown auto shops

Bailey resident questions town board's ethics training

Virtual Academy available to all Nash students

JOHNSTONIAN NEWS

Confederate monuments spark conversation

BENTONVILLE — Monuments to the Confederacy and its soldiers are coming down across North Carolina. Frank Powell, a spokesman for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, thinks that’s wrong. …

Deputies should have body cameras, Johnston resident says

Board was insistent that K-5 students return

Selma storefronts collapse; no one hurt

Planet Fitness hopes to open by end of July

FUN STUFF

COLUMN

We're governed by geezers: Time for gerontocracy to pass the torch

When Baby Boomers protested the ills of society in the 1960s, we didn’t trust anybody over 30. Now that we’re in our 60s and 70s, we don’t seem to trust anybody under …

LIFE

Sweet potato muffins will remind you of fall

It’s amazing how a muffin can give you all the feelings of fall. I could smell the cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves as my sweet potato muffins baked last week, and later I could taste the flavors I …

E-EDITION

Friday, July 31, 2020

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BEST OF

Through ups and downs, Team Elite finds its place

It was July 14, and Wilson Team Elite had just put forth what amounted to a lackluster performance — in both urgency and execution — in a 9-1 loss to the Garner Nationals at Rocky …

In this photo by Vernon Morton in the Friday, Aug. 3, 1951, edition of The Wilson Daily Times, UNC All-American Jimmy Thomas, left, clipped N.C. State’s Bob Mattson in a featured 150-meter medley race on the eve of the eighth annual Southern AAU Swimming Meet at Wilson Municipal Pool. Thomas won in 142.9 to set new AAU national and world records while Mattson also surpassed the previous mark.

Thomas sets national mark as AAU swimming meet begins

Jimmy Thomas, an All-America swimmer from the University of North Carolina, shattered the AAU and world record for the 150-meter individual medley at Wilson Municipal Pool as a prelude …

Pandemic baseball was fun while it lasted

A summer of baseball, created out of some of the most challenging circumstances, found life when the Wilson Tobs and Wilson Team Elite elected to give players an opportunity to play …

Matt Cuddington, center, watches the action from in front of the Smithfield-Selma bench during a home game against Beddingfield on Jan. 13. Cuddington, a 1997 North Johnston High graduate, will return to his alma mater as the Panthers varsity basketball head coach after nine years at SSS, five as head coach.

Cuddington gets his shot leading alma mater North Johnston

As a Kenly native and resident for most of his life, Matt Cuddington isn’t exactly coming back home as the new varsity boys basketball coach at North Johnston High, but …

Kevin Woodhull-Smith is the new men's and women's swimming coach at Barton College.

Barton turns to Woodhull-Smith to lead swimming programs

The loss of an in-state program has helped lead to a gain for swimming teams at Barton College. Following the depature of the only head coach in program history after Tyler Ziegler …

Guess Who?

"Guess Who?” is a weekly photo feature from The Wilson Times sports photo archives that will run each week in the Times sports section. If you know or would like to guess who is in …

Pictured with Lake Wilson Tennis Club head professional Jake McCartney, far left, the quintet of Colton Owens, Kannyn Fail, Kensley Hill, Katelyn Wilson and Reed Barkley shared the USTA 10U Down East Junior Team Tennis championship with River Birch Tennis Center of Greenville with a 3-1 record.

Lake Wilson 10U ties for Down East league title

Avenging its only loss of the United State Tennis Association Downeast Summer League season, the Lake Wilson 10U Tadpoles defeated River Birch Tennis Center of Greenville by a 22-14 …

Notre Dame running back Jafar Armstrong (8) stiff arms Virginia Tech linebacker Rayshard Ashby (23) during the second half of a game Nov. 2, 2019, in South Bend, Ind. The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Wednesday that Notre Dame, which is a league member in all sports but football, would join the league for football this season as the schedule will allow for teams to play 11 games, 10 against ACC foes.

ACC schedule includes Notre Dame, 10 conference games

The Atlantic Coast Conference reworked its football schedule Wednesday to allow each team to play 11 games and to incorporate Notre Dame, which is giving up its cherished independence …

Sports home

College Sports

COVID and out: Tobs' season stops after players test positive

A summer collegiate baseball season that was beset by obstacles from the beginning stopped abruptly Wednesday afternoon for the Wilson Tobs. The Tobs, one of just seven Coastal Plain League teams …

Wild things: Tobs sunk by 7 errors in extra-innings loss to Pilots

Tobs take one back from Pilots in Va.

English’s two-run single completes Tobs rally at Martinsville

Bulldogs lose Catawba opener, but rest of SAC-heavy schedule still intact

School Sports

Team Elite thumped in playoff opener

AHOSKIE — A double helping of generosity spelled an 11-1 romp by the host Twin Rivers Redbirds against Wilson Team Elite in the first game of the double-elimination postseason tournament in the …

Funding national parks a bipartisan win for all

Lake Wilson tennis breaks even in Down East League play

Former Greenfield star Hinton finds excitement as a business owner

Offense, relief pitching boost Team Elite to second straight victory

EDITORIALS

Our Opinion: Wilson can relax mural, sign rules to boost business

THUMBS UP to Wilson city officials for recommending rule changes that would give businesses more artistic freedom and more leeway to advertise limited-time deals. The Wilson City Council …

Our Opinion: Farmer-Butterfield gave Wilsonians a voice in government

Our Opinion: Founding principles still inspire America

Our Opinion: Mask mandate drafts cashiers, clerks as Cooper's cops

Our Opinion: Lunch shaming finally off the menu for Wilson County Schools

Our Opinion: Police reform must start with transparency

Our Opinion: Open government guarantee belongs in NC Constitution

Our Opinion: What's Wilson's plan to prevent COVID-19 utility shutoffs?

Our Opinion: Cooper's church occupancy limits are unconstitutional

Our Opinion: Transparency, free speech win in NC Supreme Court battles

Our Opinion: Virus outbreak sites shouldn't be a state secret

Our Opinion: Cooper wise to avoid restricting #ReopenNC protests

Our Opinion: Ask Congress to support local news during pandemic