February 21, 2020 | By The County Compass
By Eric Noevere | News Opinion
CAMPAIGN TRAIL – Mike Bloomberg came to North Carolina last week, visiting Greensboro, Winston Salem and Raleigh – pitching, of course, his Presidential aspirations. This was part of a two-day bus tour of North Carolina and neighboring states. He and his gun control front groups: ‘Every Town For Gun Safety’ and ‘Moms Demand Action’ have made no secret of their glee at having successfully bought all three chambers of Virginia’s government. The left’s dream list of bans on semi automatic rifles/normal capacity magazines,; universal background checks; red f…
February 19, 2020 | By The County Compass
CARTERET COUNTY, NC – A man pulled over for speeding was arrested for possession of methamphetamine.
The incident occurred shortly before 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 18, when NC Highway Patrol Trooper Chad Taylor stopped a vehicle for speeding on Hwy. 70 in Williston. When the trooper made contact with the driver, Chase Arlin Dixon, 22, he was asked to exit the vehicle and the trooper noticed Dixon was actively bleeding from both of his hands. At the trooper’s request, a Carteret County deputy was dispatched to the scene to assist with the traffic stop.
While the trooper was in the process of…
February 18, 2020 | By Jeff Aydelette
BAYBORO – Methodically, over the past two years, operatives from an appraisal firm hired by Pamlico County have been visiting each of the county’s 18,000 individual property parcels – snapping photos and measuring FROM THE OUTSIDE.
Now, in just a few days, you will see a figure, which is supposed to represent the true market value of your home and property, as of Jan. 1, 2020.
In a brief update earlier this month for the County Commissioners, Ryan Vincent of Vincent Valuations candidly conceded: “We will get appeals, and we expect appeals.”
Vincent went on to say mass appraisals – last calculat…
February 17, 2020 | By The County Compass
NEW BERN – Wynona Rodgers, 74, politely explained her predicament to the city’s Board of Aldermen Tuesday night.
Hurricane Florence in September 2018 had completely destroyed her single-wide trailer at 1804 Charles Street. Since then, she has begged, borrowed, and scraped up enough money to finally buy another single-wide – only to be told by planning officials that the city’s land use regulations require at least a double-wide on the site.
Rodgers’ niece, Joy Cherry, then took her turn at the podium.
Her aunt’s trailer had been at the Charles Street location for years – well before the city…
February 14, 2020 | By Jeff Aydelette
NEW BERN – If you’ve been to the Antique Show & Sale in a previous year, then you know what I am talking about. One $10 ticket is good for all three days – Friday and Saturday 10 – 5, and Sunday 11- 4. The experience is a blast – even if you know NOTHING about antiques (and I certainly fit into that category). The 30-plus dealers are super knowledgeable, which makes it easy!
I tell my friends that this show qualifies as the area’s premier wintertime social event! I guarantee that you will run into some old acquaintances – and probably meet new ones. I highly recommend this to all County Compass readers…
February 7, 2020 | By The County Compass
New, taller kid takes over in Reelsboro
The goal, of course, is improved water pressure in this growing community. The taller $1.8 million tower – of approximately the same capacity – went up last year. ‘Deconstruction’ of the original tower, built in the late 1970s, has been planned for sometime. Crews arrived Saturday and Sunday and went to work with a crane, safety harnesses, torches, and plenty of know-how. Farewell old friend. You served us well.…
February 5, 2020 | By PRESS RELEASE
On 01/24/2020, Carteret County Deputies began a robbery investigation following a report from a 38-year-old victim alleged to have been robbed at gunpoint in his vehicle on Coldfelter St in Newport.
Detective Lt. Derek Moore who investigated the case said the victim was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash and a cell phone. The investigation resulted in criminal charges against three suspects. The handgun used during the commission of the robbery was also recovered.
On 01/31/2020, Alexa Rae Lowery, 18, of Eagle Road, Newport, was arrested and charged with Armed Robbery with a Dangerou…
February 5, 2020 | By The County Compass
BEAUFORT – District Attorney Scott Thomas announced that LEIGHMAN JOEL HARDESTY, 26, of Beaufort, has been charged with Aggravated Felony Death by Vehicle and Involuntary Manslaughter.
On January 22, 2020 at approximately 12:15 p.m., Hardesty was driving west on NC 101 near Old Winberry Road in a Silverado pickup truck. Hardesty went left of center causing a head- on collision with a Toyota FJ Cruiser driven by Floyd Woolbright, 50, of Havelock.
Woolbright died at the scene and Hardesty was airlifted to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville with serious injuries. The investigation by the S…
February 5, 2020 | By Special to the County Compass
BAYBORO – District Attorney Scott Thomas announced this week that a Pamlico County jury convicted Thomas Wayne Steele, 63, from Concord, NC of Embezzlement of More than $100,000, and four counts of Exploitation of an Elder Adult.
Senior Resident Superior Court Judge John Nobles presided over the trial, which concluded Friday, Jan. 31. The case was prosecuted in court by Financial Crimes Prosecutors Chuck Spahos and Jordan Ford of the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, assisting District Attorney Scott Thomas.
The Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Car…
February 4, 2020 | By The County Compass
Over the past 2 weeks, The Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office concluded a 4-month drug operation targeting those responsible with selling illegal and dangerous drugs in Pamlico County. As a result of the operation two criminal suspects were charged and arrested. During the operation meth, heroin, cocaine, marijuana and a quantity of US Currency was seized. The following suspects were charged:
Leigh Ann Worley
DOB- 10/22/1970 W/F
11 Rathfarnham Road, Apt H, Asheville, NC
Charges: Trafficking in Methamphetamine (2 Counts)
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Bond: $500,000 Secured
Kelly Ja…
February 4, 2020 | By PRESS RELEASE
CARTERET COUNTY — On 02/03/2020, Carteret County Deputies arrested Anthony Joseph Reese, 30, of Oyster Ln, Hubert and Evan Mitchell Whitby, 28, of Youpon Dr, Hubert, following a traffic stop on Monday morning.
Deputies Jann Perez and Cenold Belizaire stopped the vehicle near Croatan High School on Hwy 24 in Newport for improper equipment. After a search of the vehicle and both occupants deputies discovered trafficking amounts of methamphetamine in addition to marijuana.
Reese was charged with three counts of trafficking methamphetamine, three counts of possession with intent…
February 3, 2020 | By The County Compass
BEAUFORT – District Attorney Scott Thomas announced that, in Carteret County Superior Court, TRACY SHOFFNER, 56, Columbia, North Carolina, entered a guilty plea to a charge arising out of post-Hurricane Florence fraud upon a church. Resident Superior Court Judge Josh Willey presided over this term of court, and the case was prosecuted in court by Assistant District Attorney Ashley Eatmon.
Following the damage done by Hurricane Florence, Shoffner offered to conduct repairs on a local church, and after providing what appeared to be a contract, the church administration paid him $ 7500.0…
January 30, 2020 | By Special to the County Compass
MOREHEAD CITY –The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Artificial Reef Program — in partnership with the Oregon Inlet Artificial Reef Committee – sank the first of three tugboats off the coast of Pea Island on Monday.
The towing vessel American is the first addition to Artificial Reef 165, a new site about seven miles south of the Oregon Inlet sea buoy off Dare County. This tug is part a project to place three vessels and 7,000 tons of concrete pipe on the reef that was organized by the Oregon Inlet Artificial Reef Committee.
Funded by a Coastal Recreational Fishing License grant and a large…
January 28, 2020 | By Special to the County Compass
Reporter’s ‘experiment’ of going solo lasts only 20 minutes
By Gordon Allison, Jr. | Technical Engineer
Editor’s Note: Last week in Part One, we examined oxygen for treating sleep apnea. Here, we look into using oxygen concentrators for airline travel. Next week, we explore the need for oxygen as people grow older.
When we moved to Colorado in the late 1980s, my hemoglobin rose as we acclimated to high altitude. Adult males at altitudes of 1,000 feet or less have a hemoglobin level of approximately 13 to 16.5 grams/deciLiter (gm/dL). When you live at high altitudes such as 5,000 feet above m…
January 27, 2020 | By PRESS RELEASE
On 01/25/2019, Carteret County Deputies arrested Brandon Overton, 33, of Eden, NC and John Aguon, 29, of 305 Ronnie Rd, Beaufort for their rolls involving stolen ATV”s and trailers from Carteret and Craven County.
Deputies received information that two stolen four-wheelers were going to be transported via an enclosed truck from Craven County to Down East Carteret County. Deputies later observed the truck and followed it to McGee’s storage on Harkers Island Road. The suspects were confronted where Aguon was taken into custody while Overton fled on foot.
Overton was taken into custody the…
