Author: Jeff Aydelette

GRANTSBORO –  Todd Willis was a meteor. A bright, shining, spiritual, inspirational light across our constellation. In 2016, his brainchild, Neuse River Bait & Tackle, won the Chamber’s New Business of the Year. His annual fishing symposiums were massive sellouts. In June of this year,…

NEW BERN – Feeling sorry for a mega-big engineering firm – one that sports multiple offices across North Carolina and oozes with experience in negotiating contracts – is difficult.  Nevertheless, a close reading of public documents — which bear the fingerprints of Eastern Carolina Council…

Analysis from:  Geert Vanden Bossche / Janci Lindsay / S.V. Subramanian & Akhil Kumar / Rand Paul One of the gutsiest scientists during 2021 has been an independent virologist and vaccine expert, Geert Vanden Bossche (DVM & PhD) who was formerly employed by The Bill…

MINNESOTT BEACH – Two picture-perfect weather days arrived on schedule at Minnesott Yacht, Golf & Country Club this past weekend, which accommodated a good turnout from the membership and some amazing golf over the 36-hole tournament.  Ken Howard – who at age 70 might have…

Coincidence? Luck? Or, possibly a Plan?  Handsomely paid tasks immediately fall into lap of new law firm Editor’s Note: In an email exchange with the Grady Quattlebaum law firm, this newspaper has made it clear that we are eager to print any formal statement from…

NEW BERN – Grady Quattlebaum, PLCC, a new law firm formed in early August of last year by former Sumrell Sugg attorneys Arey Grady and Jill Quattlebaum, abruptly resigned as the legal firm for the Eastern Carolina Council on July 20, 2021. Two days later,…

NEW BERN – Grady Quattlebaum, PLCC – a two-person law firm comprised of veteran attorneys Arey Grady and Jill Quattlebaum – abruptly resigned as attorneys for the Eastern Carolina Council on July 20, 2021.  Two days later, ECC’s highest ranking employee was also out the…

A year ago, COVID-19 cash flowed freely  Eastern Carolina Council got its share! News Commentary NEW BERN – The Eastern Carolina Council is a quasi-governmental agency, charged by North Carolina to look out for smallish, rural counties and municipalities that may lack the staff and…

Indiana doctor’s articulate, coherent presentation temporarily eludes social media video censors, netting millions of views! MT. VERNON, INDIANA – Thanks to many alert readers, each day I receive a ton of Internet ‘links’ to hot topic articles and videos. Monday morning, I opened an email…

News Commentary NEW BERN – Through the haze, there appears to be a blaze. Here is what this newspaper has been able corroborate from a variety of sources: The ECC’s executive director Katie Bordeaux was abruptly fired on July 22, after a three hour closed…

DOWNTOWN NEW BERN – At 10pm on Thursday, July 22,  the governing board of the Eastern Carolina Council (ECC) voted unanimously to “immediately dismiss” the Council’s executive director, Katie Bordeaux.  The stunning decision came after a marathon three-hour closed door session – off limits to…

Brenda E. Blanco, City Clerk for New Bern, hasthe distinction of being named to the 2021 Municipal Clerks Honor Roll. General Code began this special recognition program in 2001 to honor the unsung heroes of our communities — Municipal Clerks! The program ran for nine…