The Greene County Board of Commissioners approved a budget ordinance for the planned Greene County Elementary School, nominated Vice-Chairman Jerry Jones to the North Carolina Global Transpark Economic Development Region Council, and agreed to a sponsorship for the Snow Hill Tennis and Golf Tournament when the board met at the Greene County Operations Center in Snow Hill on Monday, August 3, 2026.
Consent Agenda
The board approved its consent agenda without changes. Included in that agenda were four late applications for property tax relief. Under state law, N.C.G.S. 105-282.1(a1), the tax assessor does not have authority to approve a late application for the Elderly or Disabled Exclusion, Disabled Veteran Exclusion, or Present Use Value Deferment; the statute allows such applications to be approved by the Board of Commissioners upon a showing of good cause, with approval applying only to the current tax year and not retroactively.
Tax Administrator Stephanie Wiggins had recommended the board consider the requests, noting the applicants and parcels met eligibility requirements. One applicant sought an Elderly or Disabled Exclusion, citing the death of her husband as the reason for filing late. A second sought a Disabled Veteran Exclusion after a parcel was transferred into a living trust earlier in the year, requiring the application to be refiled. Two other applicants sought Present Use Value classification, both citing delays from the county's Mapping Department and Tax Office in generating parcel data ahead of the June deadline.
Also approved as part of the consent agenda were the 07/20/26 regular meeting minutes, and three vehicle tax refunds tied to vehicles sold during the year, covering the 2025 tax year. The refunds, which included prorated tax and fire district amounts plus interest where applicable, totaled $16.08, $73.55, and $38.80.
NC Global TransPark Board Appointment
County Manager Kyle DeHaven told the board that the North Carolina Global TransPark Economic Development Region had asked the county to nominate a representative to its Board of Directors for a new three-year term, since Chairman Bennie Heath's current term in that role, in which he has served as Vice-Chair, was set to expire in October. According to a memo in the agenda packet from Trey Cash, the regional organization's Chief Operating Officer, Section 5.03 of the organization's bylaws gives Greene County the right to nominate an individual to the board, with the nominee then subject to approval by a majority vote of the full regional board.
Commissioner Ray Johnson nominated Jones for the seat, and Jones seconded his own nomination. The board voted unanimously to put Jones forward as the county's nominee.
Snow Hill Tennis and Golf Tournament Sponsorship
DeHaven brought forward a sponsorship request from the Lenoir Community College Foundation for the 44th Annual Snow Hill Tennis and Golf Tournament, noting the county had sponsored the event at different levels in past years, including bronze and silver tiers. Commissioners recalled that the county had given at the $300 bronze level the previous year.
Vice-Chairman Jerry Jones moved to sponsor at the silver level this year. Commissioner Ray Johnson said he preferred the bronze level because the money would stay in the county, but seconded Jones's motion for silver after further discussion among commissioners about the tournament's sponsorship levels. The board then voted unanimously to sponsor the tournament at the silver level.
According to the sponsorship letter included in the agenda packet, from LCC Foundation Executive Director Jeanne Kennedy and Development Coordinator Katherine Pearson, the tournament runs from August 21 through August 30. It opens with a USTA Singles Tennis Tournament from August 21 to 23, followed by pickleball tournaments on August 25, with women's doubles at 1 p.m., men's doubles at 3 p.m., and mixed doubles at 5 p.m., along with a sponsor's appreciation social that evening.
Golf follows on August 27 at Cutter Creek Golf Club, and the event concludes with the USTA Doubles Tennis Tournament from August 28 to 30 at Greene Ridge Racquet Club, along with a raffle on the night of August 29. The letter stated the tournament has raised more than $270,000 over the years for Greene County students' college education, and that the LCC Foundation awarded more than $530,000 in scholarships to students from eastern North Carolina during the 2025-2026 academic year.
Commissioner Bobby Taylor has been a longtime advocate for the tournament, which is held each year at Greene Ridge Racquet Club, a facility Taylor owns. The board has sponsored the event for years, dating back to well before Taylor was elected to the board. At the county's June 29, 2026, meeting, Taylor told the board that every dollar raised through the tournament is restricted to funding Greene County students who attend LCC and stays within the county, and that the fund had grown to more than a quarter million dollars, built up through average annual proceeds of roughly $30,000 over the previous five years, which he credited to strong local business sponsorship and community support.
Capital Project Budget Ordinance for Greene County Elementary School
DeHaven next presented a Capital Project Budget Ordinance for the planning and future construction of Greene County Elementary School. He described it as a multi-year ordinance that establishes the county's authority to pay invoices as they come in for the project. The $42 million tied to the ordinance comes from a Needs-Based School Capital Fund grant through the state lottery commission, written by Dr. Rodney McNeil.
According to the grant application included in the agenda packet, dated September 12, 2025, the $42 million request was broken down into roughly $2.1 million for planning, $35.3 million for construction, and $4.6 million in other project costs, with no local matching funds required. DeHaven said the county had discussed additional funding for an expanded version of the project, and that if those funds were awarded, a budget amendment would be added later. For now, he said, the ordinance was needed so the county could begin paying invoices already coming in for the project. Jones moved to approve the ordinance, and the board voted unanimously to adopt it.
County Attorney's Comments
County Attorney Kevin MacQueen used his time on the agenda to recognize staff in the county's child support office, part of the Department of Social Services, praising their work and experience and saying working with them was one of the personal joys of his job. He noted that the department's director, Amanda Smith, had something planned later in the week to honor them.
Closed Session
Based on time markers in the meeting recording, the board spent about eight minutes in open session, covering the agenda items above, before voting to enter closed session for attorney-client privilege, pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 143-318.11(a)(3).
The board remained in closed session for approximately one hour and 49 minutes. It then voted to come out of closed session and return to regular session, and adjourned within moments of reconvening.
If there is one day each month that tests a dog’s courage, it is grooming day.
Our little girl loves riding in the truck. The moment she hears the keys jingling, she is ready to go. She hops in with her head held high, tail wagging, ears perked up, convinced we are headed somewhere wonderful. You would think we were taking her to a steakhouse instead of the groomer.
Then we pull into the parking lot.
That little rascal suddenly realizes exactly where she is.
The whining starts.
She looks at me like I have personally betrayed her. If dogs could file divorce papers, I believe she would.
Once we step inside, though, she puts on the biggest show you have ever seen.
She struts through the waiting room barking at every other dog like she is the sheriff in town. Being a German Shepherd, she is convinced she is the toughest one in the building, and she makes sure everybody knows she has arrived.
Now, at home, she is as sweet as can be. She loves belly rubs, follows us from room to room, and would happily spend the whole day curled up beside us.
But at the groomer, she turns into the toughest little outlaw in the county.
Every month, while we are waiting for them to call her back, I lean down and whisper, “Now you behave yourself.”
Not because I am worried about the other dogs.
I tell her that because there are usually several good folks from Greene County sitting in that waiting room. There are almost always a couple of sweet girls from Greene County working the front desk too.
I remind her, “You better mind your manners. There are people in here who can vote for us.”
Then I add, “If we do not get elected, you are not getting any treats.”
She gives me that sideways look like she is trying to decide whether my campaign is worth saving.
Then they call her name.
Just like that, all the barking and carrying on comes to an end.
She plants those big paws on the floor and refuses to move. Five seconds earlier she was ready to take on every dog in the building. Now she looks back at us with those big brown eyes, hoping one of us will scoop her up and carry her right back out the front door.
Bless her heart.
The fearless sheriff of the waiting room suddenly becomes a frightened little puppy.
A little while later, they bring her back looking prettier than ever. She smells like flowers, her coat shines, and she is proudly wearing a fresh little bandana as if nothing traumatic has happened.
The funniest part comes when they open the front door.
She bolts out of there like she just escaped from prison, never bothering to look back.
You would think that experience would teach her something.
It never does.
Next month, the truck door opens, and she jumps right back in, tail wagging, excited for another adventure, completely forgetting where we are headed.
Maybe some lessons are just too hard to learn.
Or maybe she has life figured out better than the rest of us.
She forgets the bad parts, remembers the ride with the people she loves, and climbs into the truck with hope all over again.
That is not such a bad way to live.
If you love soft, chewy chocolate chip cookies, then this Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie is about to become one of your favorite desserts. It has everything you love about a classic cookie, including buttery brown sugar flavor, crisp golden edges, and a rich, gooey center loaded with melted chocolate chips, all baked into an easy-to-slice pie. Whether you are making dessert for a family dinner, a holiday gathering, or simply treating yourself after a long day, this recipe is guaranteed to impress.
The best part is how simple it is to make. With a handful of pantry staples and just a few minutes of mixing, you can have a warm, homemade dessert ready for the oven. Serve it fresh with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce for a bakery-worthy dessert everyone will be asking you to make again.
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup light or dark brown sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon fine table salt
⅛ teaspoon baking soda
¾ cup semi-sweet, milk, or dark chocolate chips
Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Pan: Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9-inch pie plate or a 9 x 9-inch square baking pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth and well combined. Stir in the vanilla extract, then add the egg and whisk until the mixture is glossy and fully incorporated.
Add the Dry Ingredients: Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda to the bowl. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, gently stir until just combined and no dry streaks of flour remain. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookie pie soft and tender.
Fold in the Chocolate Chips: Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the chocolate chips for the topping. Fold the remaining chocolate chips evenly into the batter.
Assemble the Pie: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pie plate or baking pan. Smooth the top with the back of a spoon or an offset spatula, then sprinkle the reserved chocolate chips over the surface.
Bake: Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set but still slightly soft. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with a few moist crumbs but no wet batter.
Cool and Serve: Let the cookie pie cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm on its own or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra indulgent dessert.
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