Your Community News Source Since 1968

801 Broad St. Oriental, NC

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 510, Oriental, NC  28571

Ph: 252-249-1555

Fax: 252-249-0857

This Week's News


FROM DIANE MILLER, TOWN MANAGER

TOWN OF ORIENTAL

"A CONTRACTOR HIT OUR WATER MAIN AND IT WILL NECESSITATE CLOSING OFF WATER TO THE TOWN TO MAKE THE REPAIR. WATER IS TURNED OFF AS OF 2PM. WE DO NOT HAVE AN ESTIMATED TIME OF REPAIR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE

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BROADBAND SURVEY TO BENEFIT

PAMLICO COUNTY

The North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) and it's NC Broadband Infrastructure Office (NC BIO) have been integral partners on broadband projects in Pamlico County. They now request that our households and businesses take the NC Broadband Survey to pinpoint remaining service gaps in our County. The responses will be integrated into the State Broadband Infrastructure map so that Pamlico County and the State of North Carolina can prioritize funding to last mile areas. To be in position to fully tap into and compete for those funds, we must have a good response rate to the NC Broadband Survey.

The NC Broadband Survey Postcard is available in English and Spanish and with QR code & Web links. You may take the survey at:

https://www.ncbroadband.gov/north-carolina-broadband-survey

or visit the office of Beth Bucksot at 202 Main St. in Bayboro for a hard copy.

Please feel free to share this information with others and encourage them to respond to the survey.

A brief update on Pamlico County Broadband efforts:

Pamlico County Government has been engaged in broadband fiber development for the County since June 2017. We completed local assessments, mapped 2017 survey response areas, mapped fiber assets, tall structures, developed a broadband engineering buildout plan, found partnerships at the state and regional level, and sought funding to expand fiber based broadband access. Broadband development funding requires the County to have a broadband provider apply for grants on the County's behalf with the County as a partner. Your County Commissioners budgeted matching funding to partner with and incentivize providers and to leverage grant points.

As a result, Pamlico County has now received 2 GREAT Grant awards for fiber.

The first GREAT Grant award from 2021 is in partnership with CenturyLink/Lumens/Brightspeed and project is nearing completion. This project provides fiber to 832 address points.


The second GREAT Grant award is from August 2022 with CCO Holdings/Charter/Spectrum, and the process is just beginning. This project will reach at least 327 address points.
Some areas were picked up in the 2022 FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund bidding by CCO Holdings/Spectrum and Starlink. Starlink has been serving some areas of our county for the last 2 years. The companies have 3 years to build out the areas that they won, or they will forfeit their awards. We do not have current information on the number of address points for this project.

Again, please take the North Carolina Broadband Survey and share this information. Thank you for your contribution to our communities.

Beth Bucksot
Pamlico County Director of Economic Development
beth.bucksot@pamlicocounty.org
Phone: (252)-745-3081
202 Main St. P.O. Box 776
Bayboro, NC 28515

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MISSING TEEN

**Found Safe**

The Pamlico County Sheriff's Office needs assistance locating Allen Henry Long, 16 years of age W/M 6' 1" approximately 160 lbs. Long was last seen in Bayboro on January 19,2023. If anyone has any information on his whereabouts please contact the Pamlico County Sheriff's Office at 252-745-3101

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Water Advisory Lifted

Water Advisory and Update from Pamlico County Manager

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Spirit of Christmas Participation Form

Click here for link to file

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PCC Oyster Roast!

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From Diane Miller
Oriental Town Manager

Resiliency Study- from Pamlico County:

We are participating in this study to help identify where and how flooding affects our access to infrastructure.

See attached survey.

Paper copies are available in Town Hall.

Link to online survey: https://forms.office.com/r/urXHj8RwcC

Electronic version available at www.TownofOriental.com

In person and online meeting December 7, 2021, 6-7PM at the Courthouse to discuss results. (A link to the meeting is in the survey link)

PLEASE PARTICIPATE and SHARE

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Press Release from Pamlico County Schools

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Community Health Event at
Pamlico Community College

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Can you help the
Pamlico County Foundation for the Aged?

From Pamlico County Animal Control

From Oriental's History Museum

Emergency Broadband Benefit Information

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From Pamlico County Health Department

Town of Oriental Brown/White Goods Clean up this weekend

From Pamlico County Health Department
Updated April 19, 2021

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From Pamlico County Cooperative Extension

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From Pamlico County Health Director Scott Lenhart

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Support Local!

PAMLICO COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PRESS RELEASE FEBRUARY 3, 2021

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PAMLICO COUNTY COVID TASK FORCE FAQ REGARDING COVID VACCINATIONS

**The COVID-19 Community Task Force (CCTF) is a volunteer organization established to engage the community in responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic and to support and augment the County’s efforts. The information shared by the CCTF is not an official communication from Pamlico County, its Health Department or the Pamlico County COVID19 Task Force.**

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Oriental First Baptist Church Holds Blood Drive

The Oriental First Baptist Church played host to a Red Cross blood drive on January 12th in their fellowship hall. The Pamlico News co-sponsored the event. According to organizers, turnout was excellent for a blood donation event at a first-time location with 19 preregistered
donors and a steady stream of walk-ins giving the gift of life. For more information about giving blood, visit the Red Cross website, Redcrossblood.org.

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Press Release from PC Health Department - Updated January 14, 2021

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Press release from Pamlico County Health Department Released December 30, 2020

 Children's Corner Christmas
Read Aloud

Legend of the Christmas Spider

Long, long ago, on one Christmas Eve, the spiders were banished from homes while the houses were cleaned for Christmas and their webs were broken. They just managed to survive and had to move to the farthest corner of the attic for the time being. However, some of the young spiders longed to see the decorated Christmas trees and the little Christ child that came to bless the homes in the midnight. The elders tried to make them understand that they were not allowed inside the rooms, but the young spiders were quite curious and adamant. Finally, the oldest and wisest spider came up with a solution and suggested that in the night, when everybody went to bed, perhaps they could creep out of their corners and get a closer look of the magical Christmas tree.??Even the adult spiders felt the thrill of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them and in midnight, when the house of a noble family was dark and silent and everybody was fast asleep, spiders crept out of their hiding place and slowly reached the Christmas tree. They were so captivated by the ethereal beauty that they spent all night in the tree, crawling up and down and examining its beautiful ornaments. They could not curb their urge to weave pretty and delicate spider webs all over the tree as they danced on its branches. In the wee hours of the morning, the little Christ child came to bless the house. He was surprised to find little spiders and their webs on the tree.??He knew that every creature was made by God and yet he knew how the mother who had worked hard all day to make everything perfect would be dismayed to find the spider webs on its tree. Thus, with a heart full of love and a lovely bewitching smile on his lips, the Christ child gently touched the spider webs and set them sparkling and shining in silver and golden colors that made the Christmas tree look even more beautiful than before. It is said that this is how tinsel was introduced to decorate Christmas trees. Some people also hang a spider ornament in remembrance of the devoted little spiders who worked hard that Christmas Eve.


Riddle me this…

Q: What's red and white and black all over??A: Santa Claus after he slid down the chimney.
Q. Why was Cinderella no good at football??A. Because her coach was a pumpkin.
Q. Why do reindeer scratch themselves? ?A. Because they're the only ones who know where they itch
Q. Why was Santa's little helper depressed??A. Because he had low 'elf' esteem.
Q. How does Snowman travel around??A. By riding an icicle.
Q. Where do Snow-women like to dance??A. At Snowballs
Q. Why did the man get the sack from the orange juice factory??A. Because he couldn't concentrate.
Q. What happened when Guy ate the Christmas decorations??A. He went down with tinsel-itis.
Q. What do you get if Santa comes down your chimney when the fire is ablaze??A. Crisp Kringle.
Q. What do you call people who are frightened of Santa??A. Claustrophobic.
Q. What do you get if you team Santa with a detective??A. Santa Clues!
Q. When does Christmas come before Thanksgiving??A. In the dictionary!

Christmas Jokes

What do you call an old snowman??Water!
Knock knock!?Who's there??Snow.?Snow who??Snow use – I've forgotten my name again!
What's the difference between the Christmas alphabet and the ordinary alphabet??The Christmas one has no L (Noel)!
Why wasn't the turkey hungry at Christmas time??He was stuffed!
What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire??Frostbite!
What do monkeys sing at Christmas??Jungle bells, jungle bells!
What is Santa's dog called??Santa Paws!
Who delivers presents to baby sharks at Christmas??Santa Jaws!
Why are turkeys wiser than chickens??Ever heard of Kentucky Fried Turkey?
What happened to the man who shoplifted a calendar at Christmas??He got 12 months!
What do you call an Eskimo cow??An Eskimoo.
What sort of ball doesn’t bounce?
Snowballs
What kind of motorcycle does Santy ride??A "Holly" Davidson!
Where does Santa stay when he's on holidays??At a Ho-ho-tel!
What does Mrs. Claus sing to Santa on his birthday??"Freeze a jolly good fellow!"
Why does Santa owe everything to the elves??Because he is an elf-made man!
What's red and green and flies??An airsick Santa Claus!
What does Santa say to the toys on Christmas Eve??Okay everyone, sack time!
What do you call Saint Nick after he has come down the chimney??Cinder Claus!
Why does Santa like to work in his garden??Because he likes to hoe, hoe, hoe!
What do you call a kitty on the beach on Christmas morning??Sandy Claws!
What did Santa say to Mrs. Claus when he looked out the window??Looks like "rain", "Dear"!
What's red & white and red & white and red & white??Santa rolling down a hill!
What is twenty feet tall, has sharp teeth and goes Ho Ho Ho??Tyranno-santa Rex!
What does Santa use when he goes fishing??His north pole!
What do you call Santa when he has no money??Saint "Nickel"-less!
What smells most in a chimney??Santa's nose!
What does Kris Kringle like to get when he goes to the donut shop??A jolly roll!
What do you call someone who doesn't believe in Father Christmas??A rebel without a Claus!
What did Santa get when he crossed a woodpecker with kleenex??Rapping paper!
What is invisible but smells like milk and cookies??Kris Kringle burps!

www.worldofchristmas.net

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From the offices of the County Manager and Pamlico County Animal Control

Cruising for the Veterans
held Saturday

The roar of nearly 50 vehicles of all types and numbers of wheels (2, 3 and 4) rolled through Pamlico County on Saturday to honor our Veterans. With no parade or ceremony on the courthouse lawn this year due to COVID, Pamlico County Register of Deeds Lynn Lewis came up with the idea of a cruise around the county to show appreciation to Veterans for their service. Cars, trucks and motorcycles, many decorated for the occasion, began gathering around 10:30 AM at Pamlico Community College and departed at 11:00 with a police escort. The cruise traveled north up N.C. Hwy 306 to Grantsboro and then east along Hwy 55 through Alliance, Bayboro, Stonewall and Oriental to Janeiro Road and then west along Kershaw Road back to Arapahoe and then North again on Hwy 306 back to the college to complete the loop. Veterans Steve Simmons and Tom Lanthrop served as Grand Marshalls for the cruise. Mr. Simmons is a Vietnam war Veteran (USMC), and Mr. Lanthrop is a Veteran of the Korean war and served on U. S. Navy destroyers.