$23 million in renovations planned for Cherry Hotel

By Brie Handgraaf

| January 17, 2022

For several years, a fence has surrounded the historic Cherry Hotel on Nash Street as developers com...

The Biden administration on Tuesday quietly launched its website for Americans to request free at-home COVID-19 tests, a day before the site was scheduled to launch. The website, COVIDTests.gov, now includes a link for Americans to an order form run by the U.S. Postal Service where Americans can request four at-home tests per residential address.

Website opens early for ordering free at-home COVID-19 tests

The Associated Press

| January 18, 2022

The Biden administration on Tuesday quietly launched its website for Americans to request free at-ho...

Fire extinguished at vacant duplex

From staff reports

| January 18, 2022

Wilson firefighters were able to quickly extinguish a Sunday night residential fire. Authorities wer...

Wilson County EMS paramedic Josh Dail demonstrates how quickly temperatures can rise in a closed vehicle. On a partly cloudy day in July 2014, the interior temperature in this SUV exceeded 106 degrees within five to 10 minutes. The air temperature was 91 degrees outdoors.

Wilson County earns grant for community paramedics

By Olivia Neeley

| January 18, 2022

Wilson County Emergency Medical Services has received a $280,000 grant to implement a community para...

Barton's Donaven Hairston (2) dribbles up the court during a game against Francis Marion on Nov. 30, 2021, at Wilson Gym.

COVID turns Barton basketball schedules upside down

By Andrew Schnittker

| January 18, 2022

As the omicron variant has surged across the country, COVID-19 has once again caused disruptions in ...

Fike High will hold its 10th athletic hall of fame enshrinement banquet Saturday, April 30, after a two-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To be inducted are, from left, former football coach Gus Andrews, basketball star Roc Canady, former baseball standout and longtime coach Will Flowers, former football coach and athletic director Dick Knox, former soccer and track coach Art Miller, former golf star Stephanie Otteson and Kenny Pridgen, a starter on Fike’s football and baseball state 4-A championship teams in the late 1960s.

After a 2-year delay, seven to enter Fike HOF in April

From staff reports

| January 18, 2022

The 10th induction class for the Fike High Athletic Hall of Fame definitely has a shelf life. The se...

360 Wellness & Nutrition practice manager Lisa Winbourne, left, is pictured with physician assistant Catherine Warren, nurse practitioner Ana Khoune and medical assistant MeLissa Warren.

MAIN STREET MINUTE

Health care providers open new practice

By Brie Handgraaf

| January 17, 2022

Wilsonians have a new option for primary care, but the providers are all familiar faces. Nurse prac...

Casita Brewing Co. donated more than $35,000 to area nonprofits throughout 2021. In addition to sponsorships and other support, 25% of all tip money was donated to monthly nonprofit partners. The brewery staff includes Mahalia Witter-Merithew, Taj Martin, Chelsie Stevenson, Rachel Devlin, Austin Perry, Jamie Oliver, Ryan Witter-Merithew, Leanne Atkins and Pat Atkins.

Casita brews beer, support for nonprofits

By Brie Handgraaf

| January 17, 2022

Throughout 2021, Casita Brewing Co. donated $25,100 to 12 nonprofits with causes ranging from health...

2 die in crash on Interstate 95

From staff reports

| January 17, 2022

ROCKY MOUNT — Two people died in a Sunday morning crash on a wintry Interstate 95, according to the ...

Edgecombe deputies capture murder suspect

The Associated Press

| January 17, 2022

TARBORO — A man wanted for a murder in North Carolina has been taken into custody, a sheriff’s offic...

The River Rats team celebrates a victory in the Air Force Association Cyber Patriot Competition. Coach Capt. Nicholas Green, right rear, is pictured with the team of cadets from the Tar River and Pitt Greenville Composite Squadrons, from left, Cadet 2nd Lt. Luke Wilfong, Cadet Airman Lucas Merritt, Cadet Airman Aeden Rogness (at the computer), Cadet Senior Airman Zachary Beal and Cadet Senior Airman Peter Viventi.

Local cadets place first in CyberPatriot competition

For the Times

| January 18, 2022

Cadets in a combined team called the River Rats from Tar River and Pitt Greenville Composite Squadro...

Republican attorney general candidate Buck Newton addresses attendees from Wilson's Surge Center during a stop along the Family Research Council's Values Bus tour in late October 2016.

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Newton to speak at Wilson GOP social

From staff reports

| January 17, 2022

MLK Day ceremony airs Monday The Martin Luther King Jr. Commission’s MLK Day video will premiere at ...

This is Option A. To review the calendars and provide feedback, visit bit.ly/CalFeedback_22-23_english for the English version and bit.ly/CalFeedback_22-23_spanish for the Spanish version.

WILSON COUNTY SCHOOLS

Schools seek input on 2022-23 calendar

By Olivia Neeley

| January 17, 2022

Wilson County Schools officials want feedback from staff and families for next year’s school calenda...

Greenfield forward Aaron Murphy (13) shoots over Wilson Prep's Makhi Eatmon (11) for two of his 13 first-half points during Saturday's 58-49 win for the Knights in the Brandon Ingram MLK Showcase at Kinston High School.

Knights handle Tigers in Brandon Ingram MLK matchup

From staff reports

| January 17, 2022

KINSTON — One of the marquee matchups involving Wilson teams this or any varsity boys basketball sea...

Wilson police investigators search for evidence near a home on the corner of Lane Street and Rountree Avenue after gunshots were fired Wednesday.

Police: Man shot at home, car

By Drew C. Wilson

| January 16, 2022

A Wilson man faces four attempted murder charges after police say he fired gunshots at a house and c...

Wilson Councilman A.P. Coleman, right, shakes hands with Councilman Tom Fyle during Coleman’s final council meeting in May 2019. Coleman, who served on the council for 38 years, died Wednesday.

Longtime councilman remembered as ‘servant leader’

By Brie Handgraaf

| January 16, 2022

Former Wilson City Councilman A.P. Coleman died early Wednesday morning. “Wilson mourns the passing ...

Black Wide Awake historian Lisa Y. Henderson placed a sign in the corner of the Vick Cemetery parking lot. Between 500 and 2,000 African Americans are interred at the Wilson burial ground, but with markers removed, individual gravesites can’t be located.

Radar could locate lost graves

By Drew C. Wilson

| January 16, 2022

The Wilson Cemetery Commission chair says the city might use ground-penetrating radar to locate grav...

WILSON COUNTY SCHOOLS

School board continues mask policy as COVID-19 cases rise

By Olivia Neeley

| January 16, 2022

The Wilson County Board of Education voted unanimously on Monday to continue the district’s mask man...

LATEST OBITUARIES

Amy Louise Ellis

January 18, 2022

Newark, N.J. — Amy Louise Ellis, 55, died Tuesday, January 4, 2022. The funeral service is scheduled...

Jimmy Taylor

January 18, 2022

WILSON, N.C. — Jimmy Taylor, age 64, died Monday, January 17, 2022. Service arrangements are entrust...

George Milton Fesperman, Jr.

January 18, 2022

WILSON, N.C. — George Milton Fesperman, Jr., age 62, died Monday, January 17, 2022. Service arrangem...

Carolyn Louise Hales

January 18, 2022

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Carolyn Louise Hales, age 84, died Thursday, January 13, 2022. Service arrange...

Gene Travis Vick

January 18, 2022

Middlesex, N.C. — Gene Travis Vick, 67, passed away Saturday, January 15, 2022. He was born February...

LaMont Hamilton

January 18, 2022

Las Vegas, Nev. — LaMont Hamilton was born July 22, 1948, the son of the late Levi Hamilton, Sr. and...

Allen Wayne Morris

January 17, 2022

High Point, N.C. — ALLEN WAYNE MORRIS, of High Point, North Carolina, passed away peacefully Sunday ...

Mildred Barnes

January 17, 2022

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Mildred Barnes, died Sunday, January 16, 2022. Service arrangements are entrusted...

Carolyn Ellis-Jones

January 17, 2022

DURHAM, N.C. — Carolyn Ellis-Jones, age 66, died Sunday, January 16, 2022. Service arrangements are ...

Preston Sutton

January 17, 2022

Zebulon, N.C. — Preston Sutton, 85, died Friday, January 14, 2022. Funeral, Tuesday, January 18, 6:0...

JoAnne Ruffin Bridgers

January 17, 2022

Wilson, N.C. — JoAnne Ruffin Bridgers, 74, died Wednesday, January 12, 2022. The funeral service is ...

Collin Augustus Nelson, Jr.

January 17, 2022

Wilson, N.C. — Collin Augustus 'C.A.' Nelson, Jr., 86, died Saturday, January 15, 2022. Funeral, 2:0...

Melissa Hines

January 17, 2022

WILSON, N.C. — Melissa Hines, age 46, died Thursday, January 13, 2022. Service arrangements are entr...

Robert Lee Matthews, Jr.

January 17, 2022

Middlesex, N.C. — Robert Lee Matthews, Jr., 79, of Middlesex, passed away Sunday. A funeral service ...

Edward Lee Hamm

January 15, 2022

Bailey, N.C. — Edward Lee Hamm, 66, of Bailey, passed away Friday. A funeral service will be held at...

Amy Louise Ellis

January 18, 2022

Newark, N.J. — Amy Louise Ellis, 55, died Tuesday, January 4, 2022. The funeral service is scheduled...

Jimmy Taylor

January 18, 2022

WILSON, N.C. — Jimmy Taylor, age 64, died Monday, January 17, 2022. Service arrangements are entrust...

George Milton Fesperman, Jr.

January 18, 2022

WILSON, N.C. — George Milton Fesperman, Jr., age 62, died Monday, January 17, 2022. Service arrangem...

Carolyn Louise Hales

January 18, 2022

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Carolyn Louise Hales, age 84, died Thursday, January 13, 2022. Service arrange...

Gene Travis Vick

January 18, 2022

Middlesex, N.C. — Gene Travis Vick, 67, passed away Saturday, January 15, 2022. He was born February...

LaMont Hamilton

January 18, 2022

Las Vegas, Nev. — LaMont Hamilton was born July 22, 1948, the son of the late Levi Hamilton, Sr. and...

Allen Wayne Morris

January 17, 2022

High Point, N.C. — ALLEN WAYNE MORRIS, of High Point, North Carolina, passed away peacefully Sunday ...

Mildred Barnes

January 17, 2022

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Mildred Barnes, died Sunday, January 16, 2022. Service arrangements are entrusted...

Carolyn Ellis-Jones

January 17, 2022

DURHAM, N.C. — Carolyn Ellis-Jones, age 66, died Sunday, January 16, 2022. Service arrangements are ...

Preston Sutton

January 17, 2022

Zebulon, N.C. — Preston Sutton, 85, died Friday, January 14, 2022. Funeral, Tuesday, January 18, 6:0...

JoAnne Ruffin Bridgers

January 17, 2022

Wilson, N.C. — JoAnne Ruffin Bridgers, 74, died Wednesday, January 12, 2022. The funeral service is ...

Collin Augustus Nelson, Jr.

January 17, 2022

Wilson, N.C. — Collin Augustus 'C.A.' Nelson, Jr., 86, died Saturday, January 15, 2022. Funeral, 2:0...

Melissa Hines

January 17, 2022

WILSON, N.C. — Melissa Hines, age 46, died Thursday, January 13, 2022. Service arrangements are entr...

Robert Lee Matthews, Jr.

January 17, 2022

Middlesex, N.C. — Robert Lee Matthews, Jr., 79, of Middlesex, passed away Sunday. A funeral service ...

Edward Lee Hamm

January 15, 2022

Bailey, N.C. — Edward Lee Hamm, 66, of Bailey, passed away Friday. A funeral service will be held at...

Amy Louise Ellis

January 18, 2022

Newark, N.J. — Amy Louise Ellis, 55, died Tuesday, January 4, 2022. The funeral service is scheduled...

Jimmy Taylor

January 18, 2022

WILSON, N.C. — Jimmy Taylor, age 64, died Monday, January 17, 2022. Service arrangements are entrust...

George Milton Fesperman, Jr.

January 18, 2022

WILSON, N.C. — George Milton Fesperman, Jr., age 62, died Monday, January 17, 2022. Service arrangem...

Carolyn Louise Hales

January 18, 2022

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Carolyn Louise Hales, age 84, died Thursday, January 13, 2022. Service arrange...

Gene Travis Vick

January 18, 2022

Middlesex, N.C. — Gene Travis Vick, 67, passed away Saturday, January 15, 2022. He was born February...

LaMont Hamilton

January 18, 2022

Las Vegas, Nev. — LaMont Hamilton was born July 22, 1948, the son of the late Levi Hamilton, Sr. and...

Allen Wayne Morris

January 17, 2022

High Point, N.C. — ALLEN WAYNE MORRIS, of High Point, North Carolina, passed away peacefully Sunday ...

Mildred Barnes

January 17, 2022

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Mildred Barnes, died Sunday, January 16, 2022. Service arrangements are entrusted...

Carolyn Ellis-Jones

January 17, 2022

DURHAM, N.C. — Carolyn Ellis-Jones, age 66, died Sunday, January 16, 2022. Service arrangements are ...

Preston Sutton

January 17, 2022

Zebulon, N.C. — Preston Sutton, 85, died Friday, January 14, 2022. Funeral, Tuesday, January 18, 6:0...

JoAnne Ruffin Bridgers

January 17, 2022

Wilson, N.C. — JoAnne Ruffin Bridgers, 74, died Wednesday, January 12, 2022. The funeral service is ...

Collin Augustus Nelson, Jr.

January 17, 2022

Wilson, N.C. — Collin Augustus 'C.A.' Nelson, Jr., 86, died Saturday, January 15, 2022. Funeral, 2:0...

Melissa Hines

January 17, 2022

WILSON, N.C. — Melissa Hines, age 46, died Thursday, January 13, 2022. Service arrangements are entr...

Robert Lee Matthews, Jr.

January 17, 2022

Middlesex, N.C. — Robert Lee Matthews, Jr., 79, of Middlesex, passed away Sunday. A funeral service ...

Edward Lee Hamm

January 15, 2022

Bailey, N.C. — Edward Lee Hamm, 66, of Bailey, passed away Friday. A funeral service will be held at...

LOCAL NEWS

Local cadets place first in CyberPatriot competition

Cadets in a combined team called the River Rats from Tar River and Pitt Greenville Composite Squadro...

Fire extinguished at vacant duplex

Wilson firefighters were able to quickly extinguish a Sunday night residential fire. Authorities wer...

Wilson County earns grant for community paramedics

Wilson County Emergency Medical Services has received a $280,000 grant to implement a community para...

Nominations sought for governor’s volunteer awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 Governor’s Volunteer Service Award. The awards progr...

Already delayed, NC primary could move to June

RALEIGH — North Carolina Republican legislators on Monday announced plans to further delay the alrea...

Officer hurt while chasing suspect released from hospital

MOUNT OLIVE — A Mount Olive police officer who was hurt when she crashed her car while chasing a hij...

See more local news

MOST RECENT VIDEOS

EDITORIAL

Our Opinion: A timely reminder that King’s dream is too long deferred

A Wilson Times editorial

| January 17, 2022

THUMBS UP to the Wilson MLK Commission for bringing Wilson residents together in spirit at a time wh...

Fire from a portable heater burns a couch in a live fire demonstration conducted by the N.C. Department of Insurance and Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Insurance commissioner: Exercise caution with portable heaters

For the Times

| January 13, 2022

With cold temperatures and potential wintry weather in the forecast, N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mik...

WILSON POLICE DEPARTMENT

Wilson honors Capt. Reggie Smith's life and legacy

By Olivia Neeley

| January 16, 2022

Wilson police Capt. Reggie Smith had a servant’s heart. He loved to help people, he respected others...

Wilson police officers and other onlookers line Goldsboro Street as a procession for the late Capt. Reggie Smith arrives at the Wilson Police Department on Saturday.

Procession ushers Wilson police captain’s body home

By Olivia Neeley

| January 9, 2022

Wilson Police Chief Scott Biddle gave a solemn salute as he rode by the police department Saturday a...

A Wilson firefighter prepares to extinguish a burning Honda in the parking lot of Food Lion’s Tarboro Street store on Tuesday.

Nearby vehicles moved as car burns

By Drew C. Wilson

| January 6, 2022

First responders were able to safely move adjacent vehicles away as a car burned in a grocery store ...

First responders escort a firetruck carrying the body of Wilson Fire/Rescue Services firefighter Jameel Holmes through the city on Wednesday afternoon. The 22-year-old Raleigh resident died at his home Saturday.

‘Exceptional’ Wilson firefighter remembered

By Brie Handgraaf

| January 9, 2022

Family, friends and colleagues are mourning the loss of Wilson Fire/Rescue Services firefighter Jame...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Fontenot is the leader District 24 deserves

Treating minorities like victims won’t help them rise

California is no state for NC to emulate

Resilience lights path to brighter days ahead

The brother I never had

We can all do our part to end senseless violence

Trade with China is a one-way deal

Be careful when greeting this 80-year-old

See more letters

EDITORIALS

Our Opinion: Will court uphold the people’s will on voter ID law?

More than three years after North Carolina voters decided to require photo identification at the pol...

Our Opinion: Wilson honors public servants gone too soon

THUMBS UP to Wilson residents and first responders who honored the memories of two local heroes in t...

Our Opinion: Have questions? Times subscribers know the answers

Why are some Wilson County residents not receiving their mail? Where are COVID-19 tests available? H...

See more editorials

COLUMNS

WEATHERCAST

Temps will be cold, but snow forecast remains hazy

By Al Thomas

| January 18, 2022

The temperature forecast for our area this week appears set — cold Tuesday, a brief warm up Wednesda...

COMMENTARY

The secret in granddaughter’s scrambled eggs

By Oliver Hedgepeth

| January 18, 2022

Our life’s story these days is a test of how we learn something new about ourselves and our family. ...

COMMENTARY

Scots-Irish roots shape our Southern dialect

By D.G. Martin

| January 17, 2022

“Prove it.” One of this column’s readers challenged me to back up my recent assertion that some Amer...

THE RALEIGH REPORT

District maps should reflect NC’s diversity

By Linda Cooper-Suggs

| January 17, 2022

Last week, a panel of three Wake County Superior Court judges ruled in favor of the legislative defe...

OPINION

Exit polls offer useful insights

By John Hood

| January 17, 2022

Every two years, exit pollsters attempt to survey voters who’ve just cast ballots. They post intervi...

See more columns

E-EDITIONS

Tuesday, January 18, 2022.pdf

January 17, 2022

...

See more e-edition

COLLEGE SPORTS

No. 2 Auburn gets showdown with No. 12 Kentucky

COVID turns Barton basketball schedules upside down

Area Calendar, Jan. 18-19

Gonzaga back at No. 1 in AP Top 25; Auburn up to No. 2

South Carolina still No. 1 in women's Top 25; Oklahoma rises

See more college sports

TOP SPORTS

Wilson Prep players leave the court at Wheatmore High in Trinity after defeating Lincoln Charter to win the NCHSAA 1-A championship March 7. It was the first NCHSAA boys basketball title for a Wilson school since Fike in 1984.

Oh, what a year 2021 was for area sports

By Paul Durham

| December 31, 2021

While 2020 justifiably was the wildest year on The Wilson Times readership area’s sports scene proba...

North Johnston High senior Lane McLean signs his National Letter of Intent to further his baseball and academic careers at the University of Mount Olive.

NJ’s McLean to keep family tradition at UMO

By Paul Durham

| January 1, 2022

Lane McLean didn’t have to think too hard when it came time to decide where he would continue his ba...

Los Angeles Dodgers' Julio Urias pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning of Game 5 of the National League Division Series Thursday in San Francisco.

Dodgers beat Giants 2-1 in playoff thriller, advance to NLCS

By Janie McCauley

| October 15, 2021

SAN FRANCISCO — Cody Bellinger hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning and prized midseason acquisition Max Scherzer came out of the bullpen for his first career save, sending the Los Angeles Dodgers past the San Francisco Giants 2-1 in a thrilling winner-take-all Game 5 on Thursday night and into the NL Championship Series.

St. Louis Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak, left, answers questions after the team announced Mike Shildt, right, as manager, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.,in this Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018, file photo. The Cardinals fired Shildt over organizational differences Thursday, just one week after St. Louis lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a walk-off homer in the wild-card game. Mozeliak said the firing was “something that popped up recently,” but he refused to expand on what he called “philosophical differences” between Shildt, the coaching staff and the front office.

Cardinals fire Mike Shildt over 'philosophical differences'

By Dave Skretta

| October 15, 2021

The Cardinals fired former National League manager of the year Mike Shildt over organizational differences Thursday, just one week after St. Louis lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers on a walk-off homer in the wild-card game.