Snow Hill man in custody for allegedly robbing First Flight in Kinston
A Snow Hill man is in custody after allegedly robbing a bank in Kinston on Monday morning.
According to the Kinston Police Department s Facebook page, 42-year-old Joseph Cecil Gardner Jr., who resides on Central Avenue in Snow Hill, was arrested Tuesday, Jan. 5, for his alleged involvement in the robbery of the First Flight Federal Credit Union Monday morning at 9:33 a.m.
KPD Maj. Jenee Spencer said Monday s suspect left the scene with an undetermined amount of money before officers arrived at the bank. Officers pulled camera footage from multiple locations, showing what appeared to be the suspect holding a handgun covered by a cloth inside the bank. They determined Gardner was the suspect and was driving a silver 2014 Buick SUV. Warrants were obtained on Gardner for robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Top stories of 2020: No. 3 - Mother and son released from UNC Lenoir
Kinston/Jones Free Press (kfp)
Editor’s note: This story is No. 3 in a series looking at the top 10 stories of 2020 for The Free Press, counting down from 10 to 1 from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1.
They didn’t walk in together, but Gregory Darden and his mother exited the hospital on the same day after both recovered from the coronavirus.
Gregory’s mother Mary Darden, 85, was admitted to UNC Lenoir Health Care on April 14th once she tested positive for COVID-19. Her now 63-year-old son entered the hospital the next day after complaining of a scratchy throat.
Kinston/Jones Free Press (kfp)
Editor’s note: This story is No. 4 in a series looking at the top 10 stories of 2020 for The Free Press, counting down from 10 to 1 from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1.
A series of eight stories published by The Free Press delved into the alleged mishandling of donor funds, conditions of a current animal shelter and plans for a new one, and also the future of the Lenoir County SPCA.
Seven of the eight stories, deemed a “series of attacks” by SPCA president Jerry Henderson in his letter to the editor, eventually brought some things to light for the non-profit organization.
The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office reported a resident was shot late Wednesday afternoon in Deep Run.
According to LCSO Maj. Ryan Dawson, there was a shots fired/person shot call to 911 at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, in the 4300 block of N.C. 11 South in Deep Run. The victim sustained multiple injuries from the shooting, but the victim’s condition is not known at this time.
The LCSO is not releasing the victim’s name or the name of any suspect(s) due to the ongoing investigation.
Maj. Dawson said residents in the area are safe.
“There is no danger to the public at this time,” Dawson said. “The investigation is ongoing.”
Mayor Hardy among six who receive vaccine first in Lenoir County
Kinston/Jones Free Press (kfp)
Not one, but six people were the first to receive the Pfizer vaccine in Lenoir County to develop immunity to COVID-19.
Three physicians, a critical care nurse, a pharmacist, and a security guard, who also serves as the mayor of Kinston, rolled up their sleeves to get the vaccine Thursday, Dec. 17, at UNC Lenoir Health Care.
Kinston Mayor Dontario Hardy, Dr. Rob Gallaher, Dr. Claire Paris, Dr. Varun Chukka, pharmacy operations manager Jessica Cunningham, and director of critical care Brandy Burd were selected to be the first recipients among the 901 front line employees at UNC Lenoir, who will all receive the vaccine, fighting against the coronavirus.