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Our reporters published hundreds of news articles this year. Though hard work and attention to detail was put into each article, there were some stories that stood out among the rest. 

Our reporters combed through news articles from 2024 and selected the stories that had Beaufort County buzzing. The result is a list of stories which captured historic moments in the county’s history and in the process further demonstrated our reporters’ unwavering commitment to inform and educate citizens. 

Listed below are the articles our reporters selected as the top stories from 2024. 

Man with homemade explosives, meth found in Food Lion parking lot 

In January, a detective with Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office uncovered homemade explosives and meth in a vehicle with Cameron Lee Smith, 40, of Washington. Smith was parked in the Food Lion parking lot at Washington Corners Shopping Center off John Small Avenue. 

In a press release days after the discovery, Sheriff Scott Hammonds said the department was working to determine if Smith was a “radical or hobbyist.” Hammonds stated there was no threat to the public.  

Hackney Executive Chef named semi-finalist, then finalist for James Beard award 

Executive Chef Jamie Davis at the Hackney Restaurant and Gin Distillery was named a semi-finalist then finalist for Best Chef Southeast by the James Beard Foundation. A James Beard award is the most prestigious award a chef and/or restaurant can receive in the United States. 

Davis said it was a great honor to be recognized by the James Beard Foundation and hopes his award will draw more attention to the hard work of similar chefs in eastern North Carolina. 

Agape announces plans to open a health clinic in Aurora 

Agape Health Services announced in January their plans to open a health clinic in Aurora. The news was released one year after ECU Health closed the sole health clinic in that area. 

Agape continues to work to acquire grants to renovate a 4,700 sq. ft. facility that will provide preventative medical services, dental services and a pharmacy in addition to behavioral services to vulnerable populations who will pay using a sliding scale. 

Vehicle, human remains recovered from Jack’s Creek linked to missing person case 

In early February, human remains and pieces of a 1970s Chevrolet Camaro were recovered from Jack’s Creek. The human remains belonged to William Clifton, David McMicken and Michael Norman, all of Washington. The three men went missing in December of 1982 after leaving a bar one night in Chocowinity. 

It is believed they ran off the road and crashed into Jack’s Creek. ReAnne Clifton Mayo, William’s daughter, contacted a man from South Carolina who uses sonar technology to find submerged vehicles. Together, they located the Camaro. A multitude of organizations were involved in the process of draining a portion of Jack’s Creek where the vehicle was submerged. 

Beaufort County Schools award $42 million grant from NC DPI for new school 

Beaufort County Schools was awarded a $42 million grant from North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to build a new elementary school. The new school, Washington Elementary School, will combine Eastern Elementary and John Cotten Tayloe to create a modern campus that is safer for students. 

Currently, Eastern Elementary students have to walk outside to different buildings or pods for instruction. This layout was designed in the 1960s when the school was constructed. 

The Beaufort County Board of Commissioners approved $10 million in funds to go toward the construction of Washington Elementary. 

Previous State Superintendent Catherine Truitt visited Beaufort County in February to deliver the check. 

Beaufort County Economic Development Director dies 

In May, Brad Hufford, Beaufort County’s Economic Development Director died. He was 46. 

He was hired in April of 2022 following the retirement of Marty Johnson. 

Hufford was an East Carolina University alum, earning a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science and a master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in economic development.  Hufford was previously the Vice President of Business Development for the Greenville ENC Alliance and worked in Washington as part of an N.C. Commerce Department eastern outreach program inside Carryout by Chrislyn on 2nd Street.

Bethany Methodist Church survives attempted arson 

On May 15, an unknown person entered Bethany Methodist Church in the night. They poured an accelerant from the altar to the front doors then lit a match, congregants allege. The next morning, when a church member opened the sanctuary doors a plume of smoke covered their face.

Immediately, fire crews were called and responded. The church with its hardwood floors covering 170-year-old plank floors did not burn to the ground. The sanctuary’s red, flame-retardant carpet saved it. 

At this time, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has neither named a suspect nor made an arrest. 

Washington High School senior prank goes to the extreme

On May 29, 47 Washington High School students entered the school with a key. They vandalized hallways, classrooms and the cafeteria. Beaufort County Schools confirmed that “significant damage” was done to school property. There were “broken cafeteria tables, writing on the hallway walls and windows, paint and trophy areas damaged by raw eggs.” 

Chocowinity’s Interim Town Clerk terminated, investigated for embezzlement

Lauren Hoggard, the interim town clerk for the Town of Chocowinity, was terminated on Aug. 21. One month before her termination, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation received a request on July 26 from the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s office to investigate allegations of embezzlement that involved Hoggard.

Hoggard replaced former Town Clerk Joy McRoy who was terminated in August in 2022 on allegations of embezzlement. 

Hoggard has since been replaced by interim Town Clerk Michelle Peele. 

Two Beaufort County students die nine days apart 

Two female public school students died nine days apart in October. 

Nariyah I. Gibbs, 11, of Washington and a student at P.S. Jones Middle School died on Oct. 3. Nakyra N. Weston, 10, of Belhaven and a student at Northeast Elementary died on Oct. 12. Paradise Funeral Home, Inc., confirmed.   

Their deaths were not connected. The official cause of death in both cases will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Greenville. Chief Phil Rollinson of Washington Police Department and Chief Wesley Waters of  Belhaven Police Department say it could take at least six months for the office to release its findings. 

Special use permit for new men’s shelter denied

On Dec. 13, the Washington Board of Adjustments denied the request for a special use permit to locate a new men’s shelter and kitchen adjacent to Kingdom Distributors at the intersection of E. 4th and McNair Streets.  

The request was denied for two reasons: The proposed use will not adversely affect the health and safety of residents and workers in the city. The proposed use will be compatible with existing uses that are adjacent to or neighboring the proposed location, as measured in terms of its physical size, intensity of use, visual impact, and proximity to other structures.

Reverend James Moore, executive director of Metropolitan Housing and CDC, along with his brother Joseph Moore, executive director of Metropolitan Property Management, and project manager Darwin Woolard are working to appeal the decision.