Inspirational Athlete to Participate In 2nd Run for the River Festivities

A Wilmington runner who overcame the ravages of cystic fibrosis with two new lungs to become a noted triathlon athlete will participate in a special event Mar. 23, 2007 to welcome volunteers, sponsors and runners to the 2nd annual Kinston 8000: Run for the River.

In overcoming his physical handicap to compete in Ironman distance races in the US and New Zealand, Scott Johnson has inspired thousands of runners with his spirit, grit and determination.

He will speak at 7:00 pm Mar. 23, 2007 ceremonies at Kinston's Hampton Inn, 1382 Hwy. South, to honor sponsors, volunteers and runners who will participate in Pride of Kinston's Run for the River on Mar. 24, 2007, beginning at 8:30 am with a One Mile Fun Run, followed by the 8K race which kicks off at 9:00 am.

Johnson told the January 2007 issue of Endurance Magazine that at first he participated in triathlons "...strictly for myself."

"Since then it's grown more into trying to inspire each and every child and adult who suffers from this disease (cystic fibrosis): To show them that it's all right to dream big and then go for it. I run these races for them now, not for myself."

For the uninitiated, an Ironman distance race consists of three components: (a) a 2.4 mile swim; (b) a 112 mile bicycle ride; and (c) a 26.2 mile run.

All volunteers for the Run for the River are being asked to come to the Hampton Inn by 6:00 pm Mar. 23 for race-day assignments and briefing, according to Volunteer Coordinators Michelle Weatherdon and Kevin Zoltek.

A pasta buffet will be provided for volunteers, sponsors, and runners at the 7:00 pm welcome ceremonies.

The 2007 Kinston 8000: Run for the River has attracted a record number of sponsors and a record number of runners are anticipated for the 4.97 mile race, according to Race Director Tim Knobelock. The race is sponsored by Pride of Kinston, Inc. in cooperation with the Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Department and the City of Kinston.

Objective is to grow the race into a major attraction for Kinston's tourism industry.

Sponsors of the race, through Mar. 2, 2007, include: Kinston-Lenoir County Tourism Development Authority; Rotary Club of Kinston; Comprehensive Wound Care; Kinston Medical Specialists; Lenoir Memorial Hospital; Kinston Radiological Associates; Minges Bottling Group; Hurricane Kayaks; Coastal Connections; Lenox China; BB&T; Johnson & Perry Family Dentistry; Kinston Head & Neck Physicians and Surgeons; Tands/Bojangles; the little bank; Wallace, Morris, Barwick, Landis & Stroud; White & Allen; Rakesh T. Anand; Corporate Resources; Hampton Inn; Fred Antonowich; Kinston Surgical Associates; Davis Wholesale Tire Company; and Anonymous.

Persons interested in additional information can go to Pride of Kinston's website at www.downtownkinston.com, and click on the Things to Do button. Full information and a registration form are available.

New Façade Grant

Good news for tourism and community

City and County Contribute Funds
To Assist the Original CSS Neuse

CSS Neuse II To Host
Stew Fest April 7

Two major promotional
Campaigns launched in February

Both of Kinston's Civil War gunboats hit local jackpots in recent days, indicating that better days are ahead for the remains of the original CSS Neuse and its full scale replica, the CSS Neuse II.

Both local governments, City of Kinston and Lenoir County, voted to chip in $15,000 apiece, for a total of $30,000, to pay for the demolition of two buildings on Queen Street. These two spaces—plus an adjacent empty space already owned by the State of North Carolina—will be the site for a new Civil War Museum. Lenoir County voted for its piece of the action on Feb. 19, 2007 and the Kinston City Council agreed to match the County contribution at its Feb. 19, 2007 meeting.

The proposed new museum will house the remains of the original CSS Neuse, plus some 8,000 artifacts taken from the historic vessel. The deteriorating vessel is now housed at the Richard Caswell State Historic Site on Vernon Avenue, and in need for a climate controlled environment to prevent its further demise. A campaign to secure $3.5 million from the North Carolina General Assembly to complete the project is currently underway.

The two buildings to be demolished—112-114 N. Queen—were acquired by the Pride of Kinston, Inc. in cooperation with the CSS Neuse Gunboat Association, and contracted with Enviro Assessments East, Inc. to remove asbestos in the two structures. The State of North Carolina has agreed to take possession of the two cleared spaces adjoining the lot it already owns for the museum once the asbestos treatment and demolition projects are completed.

CSS Neuse Foundation board members prepare for next phase of construction to complete the building of the CSS Neuse II as a downtown tourist attraction. Posing outside the gunboat replica are (from left to right) Jeff Stephens, secretary-treasurer; Larry Bailey, president; Alton Stapleford, Master Shipbuilder; Worth Mason, vice president; and Jimmy Ward, member.

A couple of blocks over, the CSS Neuse Foundation—new owners of the CSS Neuse II replica of the original gunboat—was awarded $32,659 by the Kinston-Lenoir County Tourism Development Authority to support plans to finish building the new tourist attraction.

The Neuse Foundation treasurer Jeff Stephens says the organization is poised to receive its official designation as a 501-c-3 non profit organization by the IRS. This will allow private donations to the project to be tax deductible for the contributors.

In the meantime, the CSS Neuse Foundation plans a Stew Fest fundraiser April 7, 2007 at the Neuse II's site, corner of Herritage and Gordon Streets.

The organization, headed by Larry Bailey of Chocowinity, NC, is soliciting volunteer cooks to prepare their favorite stews to be sold to the public from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, $10.00 for three bowls.

A judging committee will sample the stews, awarding a $500 prize to the chef making the best stew, and $250 to the runner up. Promising chefs will be asked to pay a $30 entry fee to compete in the cook-off. "Come sample a variety of local flavors and join in all the fun," Stephens urged.

The efforts on behalf of two tourism opportunities—a new Civil War Museum and the CSS Neuse II replica—come in the midst of two significant campaigns to promote Kinston and Lenoir County.

The February/March 2007 edition of Retirement Lifestyles contains a 16-page insert promoting Kinston and Lenoir County as a retirement destination; and the Committee of 100 launched the "Kinston - We're on the Way" campaign.

The campaign, put together by the Raleigh-based advertising and marketing firm of Hoyt-Hamilton—utilizing community research conducted last summer—calls for increased media exposure for achievements made by organizations, businesses and individuals in Lenoir County, according to reports in the Kinston Free Press.

Ely Perry III, president of the Committee of 100 and a member of the Pride of Kinston Board of Directors, is quoted as saying "We're trying to get everyone to pull as a team."