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Next NC Scholarship offer $5K to attend UNC schools
North Carolinians from households earning $80,000 or less will receive a minimum scholarship of $5,000 to attend any University of North Carolina System institution, provided they fill out and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid by June 1. Students and parents can get free help with their FAFSA submissions at dozens of institutions around the state on Saturday — FAFSA Day. PCC and East Carolina University are partnering...
Matthew Stevens: Daphne odora hard to grow, but blooms and fragrance are worth effort
Recently I wrote about edgeworthia, a shrub with fragrant blooms in the winter. Although winter-blooming plants are rare, edgeworthia is far from the only one. In fact, this week we’ll look at Daphne odora, commonly known as fragrant or winter daphne, another shrub that blooms in the winter packs a powerful and pleasant fragrance, as its common names suggest. While daphne is one of my favorite plants, I should start by saying it can be a difficult plant to grow. If you’re new to gardening,...
College scholarships open for applications across NC
Nearly 150 college scholarships administered by the North Carolina Community Foundation are now open for applications, representing nearly $1.8 million in scholarship funds. Most NCCF scholarships close for 2024 applications on March 15. There is no cost to apply, and it is now much easier for students to apply for multiple scholarships. This year, NCCF is using a Universal Scholarships Application for the first time. The online application matches information...
Sad to see Sports Illustrated go
It’s hard to believe Sports Illustrated has come to an end. There is an argument to be made that the magazine I loved as a kid ceased to exist years ago when the magazine was bought out. Most of the writers, photographers and editors were fired and the publication became trash. Now it’s officially gone and it makes me more sad. You have likely noticed that print media in general...
Prep Spotlight: Farmville Central's Mykal "MJ" Williams
Mykal “MJ” Williams, a 5-foot-10 junior guard, has been one of the key cogs in Farmville Central’s boys’ basketball machine this season, averaging 14.2 points per game along with team highs in assists (7.0 apg) and steals (3.4 spg) as the Jaguars stand 16-1 and 6-0 in the Eastern Plains 2A Conference. Williams sat down with correspondent Gabe Cornwall after Friday’s victory over Greene Central. Williams had three 3-pointers and 11 points in the third quarter as he finished with a game-high 26 points against...
High school basketball: Falcons soar past Vikings in Big Carolina sweep
Another game produced another master class in defense from South Central’s girls basketball team. The Falcons held D.H. Conley to four second-half points to turn a game that was tied at intermission into a 60-31 rout Tuesday night in a Big Carolina 3A/4A Conference matchup at Hollywood Crossroads. The win leaves South Central as the last team unbeaten in conference action. South Central’s boys dug out from another large deficit...
School capital needs mount in Pitt County
The Pitt County Board of Commissioners is considering $12.65 million in capital spending in the coming fiscal year, but the proposed spending will not meet expected requests from the school system and Pitt Community College. County staff is recommending a $1 million allocation for Pitt County Schools for the 2024-25 fiscal year, Sam Croom, deputy county manager/chief financial officer told commissioners during a workshop to review the upcoming budget and capital improvement plan. ...
Few changes expected in next school calendar: Officials say extended days may not be best solution
Pitt County Schools students began their spring semester on Wednesday, nearly three weeks after their return from winter break. To avoid violating state law, next year’s proposed calendar follows a similar schedule, even though school officials said they would like to see the fall semester end before Christmas. The Board of Education is expected next month to approve a 2024-25 school calendar that would start classes on Aug. 26 and...
Homegrown workforce: NC East Alliance initiative focuses on local talent
The seeds of a homegrown workforce are planted in the classroom. That was the message of regional economic development officials to hundreds of people meeting at East Carolina University to discuss ways to develop and retain local talent. More than 300 educators, industry executives and government and community leaders gathered Friday for the Vision 2024 conference, hosted by NC East Alliance. The second annual conference, held in ECU’s Main Campus Student Center, focused on the alliance’s STEM East Industry in Schools program. ...
Sheriff's Office: Ankle monitor helped locate slain man
Investigators were able to locate the body of a missing man last week with help from an electronic monitor worn by a suspect in the killing, the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office confirmed. Raekwon Terrel Blount, 26, was wearing an ankle monitor as part of his supervised release from the N.C. Department of Correction, where he had been incarcerated for a 2012 triple homicide and robbery at the Hustle Mart in Farmville. ...
Mitchell Oakley: Subjective decisions can make competitions unfair
I have always been about fairness. That’s especially so in sports competition that involves young men and women. I apply it to the high school playoffs, college playoffs, the finality of the Super Bowl or any other sport. Wins have no meaning if they are usurped by subjective judgments of those claiming to have more intimate knowledge than others. OK, yes, I remain on the topic of FSU getting jilted...
High school basketball: Jaguars complete sweep of Rams
FARMVILLE — Greene Central’s boys’ basketball team made Farmville Central fight hard for a half. The Jaguars had to battle back to regain the lead in the first half, then got a little more operating room after intermission to take out the Rams 85-63 Friday night in an Eastern Plains 2A Conference game in front of a capacity crowd at the Jaguar Den. Farmville Central’s girls overcame 27 turnovers, poor...
Snow Hill Primary recognizes Terrific Kids
Seventeen students at Snow Hill Primary were recognized with Terrific Kid awards on Jan 19. Each teacher at the school chooses a student who has been responsible, shows great character, or has reached a personal goal. On Fridays, students are presented with an award from the counselor or an administrator and are congratulated for their hard work. The Jan. 19 Terrific Kids are Reina Ventura, Sebastian Gallardo-Zamorano, Danna Martinez Herrera, Zy'Niyah Woodard, Nasir Auston, Ja'kiya Simmons, Madison Raycraft, Caleb Watson, Jacob Mendez, Olivia Bynum, Gabriella Hill, Markevion Hooker, Jah'myl Simmons, Finley Letchworth, Keira McClure, Riley Clements Dun and Ever Smith.
Snow Hill Primary recognizes Terrific Kids
Eighteen students at Snow Hill Primary were recognized with Terrific Kid awards on Jan 12. Each teacher at the school chooses a student who has been responsible, shows great character, or has reached a personal goal. On Fridays, students are presented with an award from the counselor or an administrator and are congratulated for their hard work. The Jan. 12 Terrific Kids are Mason Northcutt, Shiloh Conroy, Caleb Marquez-Saucedo, Matthew Hamilton, Elias Perez, Zaya Harper, Jackson Flowers, Raelyn Brady, Messiah Bell, Dekelvin Pearsall, Haze Freeman, Sydney Hawkins, Paola Martinez Herrera, Rhyon Cole, Noah Brewer, Karley Willoughby-Lovick, Scarlett Agustin Raudales and Madelyn Morris.
Looking Back ... The Last 100 Years
Do you recognize the people or know what’s happening in today’s Looking Back? Call 252-747-3883, Ext. 1, and leave a message to let us know who they are and include your name, town and phone number, or email us at standardnews@ncweeklies.com. No one reached us to identify anyone in last week’s Looking Back. Give us a call at 252-747-3883, Ext. 1, and leave a message if you have any information, or email us at standardnews@ncweeklies.com.
Happenings: Events, activities and community announcements
Email announcements at least two weeks in advance to community@reflector.com for publication in The Standard and The Daily Reflector. Ayden Museum The Ayden Historical and Arts Society Museum in the old Dixon Medical Building, 554 Second St., is open from 10:30 to 2:30 p.m. every Thursday through Saturday and 2-4 p.m. every fourth Sunday. Times can also be scheduled by appointment by calling 746-4209. There is no admission fee but...
Matthew Stevens: Lenten rose brings color to largely dormant winter landscapes
Most successful amateur and professional landscapers strive to create landscapes that are interesting and attractive year-round. It may not seem quite as easy to find plants to include in your landscape that are interesting during the winter months, but there are many plants which bloom during the colder months and bring much needed color to our largely dormant landscapes. One of my favorite winter-blooming plants is the hellebore, or Lenten rose. Lenten roses are a group of plants in the genus Helleborus, with Helleborus orientalis...
Steven Roberts: Iowa numbers demonstrate Trump's weakness
The most important number coming out of the Iowa caucuses is 49. That’s the percentage of Republicans who backed a candidate other than Donald Trump. All the headlines are trumpeting Trump’s “historic” triumph, and his stranglehold on the Republican base is unquestioned. But turn those results around and view them from another angle, and they reveal Trump’s potential weaknesses. If a single rival had attracted 49%, compared to Trump’s 51%, the headlines would be very different, describing a tight race that Trump had barely won. ...
Celia Stone: Present requests to God and find peace
Most of my need for confession comes from me juxtaposing my place and God’s place. I can allow mistaken notions to creep in — that life is about what I want, what makes sense to me and what makes me comfortable. At times I even entertain notions that with gumption and noble intentions, I can effect change in all kinds of negative situations, many of which are actually far outside my control. ...
J.M. Biggs: Let's try to please God
First and foremost, what I am saying comes out of love. Also, it’s part of my job being an apostle to speak the whole truth. Church folk must stop judging other church folk, because it makes the lord angry. People are going on Facebook, YouTube or around town condemning their brethren. We are to preach and teach about sin, but only what the lord has instructed us to speak. We...
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