Hometown talent Jamie Pressely, native of Kinston and daughter of Jimmy Pressley, was presented an Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actress for her work on “ MY Name is Earl” during the 59^th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Lenoir Memorial Hospital has opened its first orthopedic clinic.   The orthopedic services provided will keep patients from traveling outside of the community for basic procedures.

Commerce Overseas Corporation (COC), a leading military aviation parts manufacturer and supplier, will move its headquarters to the North Carolina Global TransPark (GTP). The move will also include a warehouse, distribution center and manufacturing facility. COC will create 72 new jobs with above average salaries and benefits.  Investment in this project is expected to exceed $4.3 million over the next three years.

A Comprehensive Transportation plan has been approved by the Kinston City Council and the Lenoir County Commissioners.  The new plan lays out the city’s road system, designed to accommodate growth at Global TransPark, for the next 25 years.

The Department of  NC Historic Sites opened its office for the Eastern Region in the Civil War Regional Museum in downtown Kinston at the corner of Queen and Caswell.

Food Critic Moreton Neal with Metro Magazine has written a fantastic review of Chef and the Farmer Restaurant.  The review urges people to visit to Kinston for a special dining experience. Visit http://www.metronc.com/article/?id=1367 to read the review.

Historic Cedar Dell Hall built in 1810 has undergone extensive renovations.  A dedication ceremony was held recently for the preservation of this beautiful home that graces the Kennedy Home campus as the resident of the director and museum of the Kennedy Family. 

Adriana’s Gift Shop is now opened at 222 N. Heritage Street. Adriana’s offers House décor, gift registry and kitchen/garden accents
n/garden accents.

Food Critic Moreton Neal with Metro Magazine has written a fantastic review of Chef and the Farmer Restaurant.  The review urges people to visit to Kinston for a special dining experience. Visit http://www.metronc.com/article/?id=1367 to read the review.

Mitchell Eye Center has opened at 1201-C W. Vernon Ave.  They provide comprehensive eye care, including dilated retinal exams, glaucoma and diabetes evaluation and  management, pediatric exams and complete contact lens services.  Their fashion optical facility has one of the larges selections of frames, lenses, and sunwear in the area.

Lenoir County has been selected to receive the John L. Smith Pesticide Container Recycling Award for 2006.  This award was created by the NCDA Pesticide Division to recognize counties that have taken the initiative to establish outstanding plastic pesticide container recycling programs for their citizens.  The agriculture industry in Lenoir County recycled over 9000 plastic pesticide containers last year weighing more than 3.5 tons.  It is estimated this has saved Lenoir County more than $45,000 in landfill space.  

This summer a $69.7 million school construction bond that was passed last year will be used to begin renovations and expansions on 19 public schools in Lenoir County.  The work that is taking place now is the first of a three-phase plan to modernize the schools.

Business will be booming at Westgate Plaza, just across the highway from the Kinston Point Shopping Center. Staples, the office supply superstore and Gold Gym, will open its doors in Westgate Plaza next spring. Also at the shopping Center will be McDonald’s Restaurant with gas station and Goodwill Industries will have a new store adjacent to McDonalds.

AG Machining Inc. will open a manufacturing facility in Kinston, creating 29 jobs and investing $1.6 million during the next three years.  AG Machining specializes in metal fabrication and machining and powder coating for the printing and computer industries.  While wages will vary by job function, the average weekly wage of the new jobs will be $520 plus benefits.

The high-tech conference and training facility at the N.C. Global TransPark (GTP) is getting a new name to reflect its key role in the future of the TransPark.  Formerly called the Education & Training Center (ETC) the 33,000-square-foot facility will soon be called TransPark Center to more directly associate it with the GTP.   The name change also coincides with an expanded marketing program, designed to better inform businesses in Eastern North Carolina about the TransPark Center’s capabilities.  Since the former Education & Training Center opened in 2000, more than 100,000 people have used its various training facilities, and up to 1,400 people per month are now using it.

Kinston Community Council for the Arts is sponsoring sculptures to be installed at different locations around town: the corner of Spring Hill and S. Queen, Hwy 11 at the Nature Center and an exchange of sculptures at LCC.  Hanna Jubran is the sculptor and will be installing sculptures over the next few month.

Lenoir County Economic Development announced 170 new jobs and $7,650,000 in capital investment in 2006. Companies included are Lenox China, Ferguson Enterprises, Cohaire and Spatial Integrated Systems. 

Business will be booming at Westgate Plaza, just across the highway from the Kinston Point Shopping Center. Staples, the office supply superstore and Gold Gym, will open its doors in Westgate Plaza next spring. Also at the shopping Center will be McDonald’s Restaurant with gas station and Goodwill Industries will have a new store adjacent to McDonalds.

NC State University has recognized Southern Vinyl Manufacturing, LLC for their contribution to the 1B4NC Campaign. Southern Vinyl is being awarded for reporting an economic value of at least $2.4 million on a lean project that began with the help of the NC State Industrial Extension Service (IES).. “Being recognized by the 1B4NC campaign is so exciting for our company,” said Rod Matthews, managing partner of Southern Vinyl. “It just shows how much we have grown as company over the past three years.”

The Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library is undergoing a major expansion and renovation project to better meet needs of the more than 1,000 people who visit the Library each day. Follow the Library's progress by visiting their website at www.neuselibrary.org. The expected completion date is late Fall 2007.