5+ day, 10+ hour ago   (205+ words) GARNER, N.C. – A Garner student has been awarded a $5,000 scholarship from the Civic Foundation to help continue her education at Elon University. Rylie Key is one of 25 high school seniors across North Carolina selected to receive the one-year scholarship. Key said…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago   (312+ words) SELMA, N.C. – A product made in downtown Selma is among 88 entries competing for statewide recognition in the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in NC contest. Lynx Defense has been nominated in the small business category for its Pistol Range Bag, one of the…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago   (181+ words) PRINCETON, N.C. – An 18-year-old Johnston County man mistakenly drove away with his laptop sitting on top of his car. Within hours, the computer had been recovered and a Princeton man was facing a felony larceny charge. The incident began around 10 p.m....

2+ week, 1+ day ago   (514+ words) JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. – Johnston County native Tracy McKinley knows what it feels like to be different. Growing up, she experienced bullying, an experience she says eventually helped inspire a children’s book character designed to encourage young readers to accept what makes…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago   (479+ words) SMITHFIELD, N.C. – Applications are now open for a new scholarship pageant in Downtown Smithfield inspired by Johnston County native and Hollywood actress Ava Gardner. “The Essence of Ava” Downtown Smithfield Scholarship Spotlight Pageant is open to all high school-aged female students…...

2+ week, 6+ day ago   (181+ words) CLAYTON, N.C. – A group of Clayton-area volunteers spent a week in Reynosa, Mexico, helping construct a home and distributing food to families as part of an annual mission trip. Clayton Friends of Faith Ministry traveled to Reynosa July 11-18, continuing its longtime…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago   (233+ words) GARNER, N.C. – Garner Fire-Rescue has earned international accreditation for the second consecutive time, placing the department among fewer than one percent of fire departments worldwide to hold the designation. The department received accreditation Aug. 18 during a hearing before the Commission on…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago   (417+ words) CLAYTON, N.C. – Gracie Cramer says she is leaving the Clayton Police Department’s 2026 Teen Academy with a deeper appreciation for the people behind the badge and the commitment it takes to serve a community. She was one of 32 students who graduated from…...

3+ week, 3+ day ago   (1008+ words) Board sets direction on farm buffers, subdivision approvals and density rules; commissioners also leave mass gathering ordinance unchanged SMITHFIELD – Johnston County’s new Unified Development Ordinance moved significantly closer to a final draft Monday after County Commissioners settled several of the…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago   (362+ words) JOHNSTON COUNTY – Nearly 500 children participated in summer reading events held across Johnston County as part of an effort to keep young students reading while school is out. Read to Grow Johnston County hosted 19 “Paws for Reading” events during National Summer…...