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Economics, violence top 2006 local news(The Free Press (Kinston, NC)(KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Jan. 1--Last year was filled with major happenings locally -- some good, some bad, and some that were just downright ugly. Whether it was businesses expanding, or leaving, or increasing violence in Kinston, or even a celebration of a major milestone, it's safe to say that 2006 was anything but dull. Over the past few weeks, Free Press newsroom staffers looked back at some of the major stories of the year and picked the top ones. Here's a look at the top 10 stories as voted on by the newspaper's reporters, photographers and editors: 1. Delta flies away Delta's October announcement that it would discontinue service at the Kinston Jetport was voted as the top story of 2006. The airline, which had offered flights to Atlanta for about 19 months, will stop flying from Kinston as of Saturday. That means Allegiant Air will be the only commercial air service flying from here. That airline offers only round-trip flights to Orlando, Fla. Delta officials blamed economics as the reason for the pullout. They said it was becoming too costly to operate out of Kinston because the airline had to keep ticket prices lower at other airports in order to remain competitive. Local leaders said they hope to attract another major airline to the Jetport. 2. Spate of violence rocks Kinston From April to June, Kinston saw a spate of shootings and stabbings that left three dead, a dozen wounded and resulted in close to 20 arrests. The violence was highlighted in June when an altercation during a party at an illegal liquor house on Orton Street left two people dead and five wounded. Police have a majority of the suspects in custody except for Keith Wayne "Boom" Bryant, who is wanted for his role in the Orton Street shooting. Those in custody are still awaiting trial. Because of the violence, police took several measures geared toward curbing crime, particularly on Kinston's east side, where most of the violence took place. A curfew for juveniles was put into place, and police installed a camera in the Simon Bright public housing complex. 3. Voters approve $69.7 million school construction bond in Lenoir County In May, Lenoir County voters narrowly approved a $69.7 million bond referendum to pay for school construction. The approval resulted in a tax rate increase of 5 cents per $100 of assessed property value. The bond issue will pay for the construction of three new schools and the renovation of four others over the next few years. It's the first of a three-phase plan to modernize all 19 public schools in Lenoir County. Thus far, the school has selected a site for a new elementary school in Pink Hill. Negotiations are also under way for property along N.C. 11 between Kinston and Grifton for a combined Contentnea/Savannah middle school. 4. State lottery gets enthusiastic reception The North Carolina Education Lottery kicked off in March and was well-received locally. In fact, sales were so high that in July, the Piggly Wiggly on North Herritage Street in Kinston was ranked eighth in North Carolina -- out of 5,800 retailers statewide. The lottery was created to help pay for needed improvements in public schools. The money will be used to help reduce class sizes, fund school construction projects and created need-based college scholarships. There were also some big pay-offs locally, topped by two Pink Hill residents who each won $200,000 in June. 5. Superintendent quits In December, Lenoir County Schools Superintendent John Frossard dropped a bombshell when he announced his resignation, effective Dec. 31. Frossard, who was hired in April 2004, said he was taking another position in a Texas school district. Terry Cline, the assistant superintendent, will serve as interim superintendent starting today. Frossard's tenure in Lenoir County was highlighted by the passage of the school construction bond, the expansion of advanced educational programs in high schools and increasing salary supplements for teachers and incentive pay for principals. 6. Smithfield expands In November, Smithfield Packing Company opened its new $100 million facility in Kinston. The 240,000-square-foot plant, located on 87 acres on Smithfield Way, will bring 300 new jobs to the area and add more than $1.5 million in annual wages to the local economy. The plant is a boneless cooked ham facility that uses advanced technologies designed to improve food safety, enhance food quality and reduce water consumption. 7. Marathon primary This year's GOP primary for the 10th State House District seat wound up taking five months before a winner was declared. When the May 2 primary was over, incumbent state House Rep. Stephen LaRoque trailed challenger Willie Ray Starling by a mere nine votes. During the canvassing, Starling's lead increased to 11. LaRoque, however, filed a challenge to the election, because several unaffiliated voters were denied the chance to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primaries. The state Board of Elections agreed, and ordered another vote that took place Sept. 12. After that vote, there was no question who the winner was, as Starling won the rematch, 1,062-989. 8. Audit slams economic development partnership In June, North Carolina's Eastern Region, a 13-county economic development partnership that includes Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties, was slapped in June by a state audit which found there was a lack of adequate financial oversight. There were no findings of intentional fraud or criminal activity, but auditors said the lack of policies regarding expense reimbursements may have allowed former Executive Director Tom Greenwood to receive reimbursements for personal expenses. The report also stated that a lack of commission oversight resulted in some expenditures not consistent with the partnership's goal of promoting and encouraging economic development. The commission responded by implementing a more restrictive expense reimbursement policy, more oversight of trips and activities and clarification of reporting procedures. 9. New leaders elected to office While the November general election will be most remembered for the Democrats regaining control of Congress, there were several significant changes made locally. Most notably was the race for the 10th State House District, which saw Democratic Kinston City Councilman Van Braxton defeat Republican Willie Ray Starling, who had ousted incumbent state House Rep. Stephen LaRoque in the GOP primary. Greene County installed three new faces on the Board of Commissioners, and Jones County voters ousted the incumbent to vote in that county's first black sheriff, John Hall. Another interesting tidbit of the night was the Lenoir County Commissioners District 1 race. After the polls closed, posted results showed that Republican Stacy Holloman had defeated Democrat Claude Stroud. But results were incomplete from four precincts when the tallies were posted, and the final count showed that Stroud had in fact won the race. 10. Cracking the case The family of Benita Green Murphy, murdered in Kinston more than 20 years ago, was given some sense of closure in October when investigators said DNA evidence resubmitted to the State Bureau of Investigation Crime Laboratory matched that of a habitual felon already behind bars. Johnny Ray Mewborne, 44, was already serving time in the Maury Correctional Facility when police charged him with Murphy's murder, rape and kidnapping, as well as the armed robbery of Scotchman's Store on North Queen Street, where the then 27-year-old victim worked. Honorable mention Other stories of note that received votes but didn't crack the Top 10 include: Lenoir Memorial Hospital celebrating its 100th birthday, the opening of a state prison in Maury, Greene County embarking on a $12 million jail expansion project, Kinston City Manager Ralph Clark announcing his intention to retire this year, former North Lenoir High School teacher and coach Charlie Stevens' being found guilty of sexually assaulting two students and the foreclosure sale of the South Park Mobile Home Park, which still has one resident living there with no water, electric or sewer services. Charlie Kraebel can be reached at (252) 527-3191, Ext. 236, or [email protected]. Copyright (c) 2007, The Free Press, Kinston, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |