News Flash

Candidate filing for Harkers Island Sanitary District will begin at noon on Friday, July 1 and end at noon on Friday, July 15 at the Carteret County Board of Elections, 1702 Live Oak Street, Suite 200, Beaufort.

Candidates must be at least 21 years old, a registered voter in Carteret County, and live within the sanitary district. Filing fee is $5 and must be paid by check or cash.

This seat is nonpartisan, so no primary is required. The election will be held during the regular November 8, 2022 General Election.

Candidate filing for Carteret County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor will begin at noon on Monday, June 13 and end at noon on Friday, July 1 at the Carteret County Board of Elections, 1702 Live Oak Street, Suite 200, Beaufort.

Candidates must be at least 21 years old and a registered voter in Carteret County. Filing fee is $5 and must be paid by check or cash.

This seat is nonpartisan, so no primary is required. The election will be held during the regular November 8, 2022 General Election.

CARTERET COUNTY, NC – One-stop absentee voting for the 2022 statewide primary begins in Carteret County on Thursday, April 28, running through Saturday, May 14. Voters may vote at any of the three locations located around Carteret County.

The three locations are: the Board of Elections, located at 1702 Live Oak St, Beaufort, Suite 200; Fort Benjamin Park at 100 McQueen Ave, Newport; and Western Park at 275 Old Hwy 58, Cedar Point.

Beginning April 28, one-stop voting hours at all of the above sites are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. On the final day of one-stop voting, Saturday, May 14, hours of operation at all sites will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. View more details at carteretcountync.gov.

Early voting allows voters to cast an absentee ballot in person prior to Election Day at any one-stop location, versus voting at their specific polling place on Election Day. It allows for more flexibility and typically has shorter lines than Election Day polling places.

Residents who are not registered in Carteret County may also register to vote during the one-stop early voting period at any of the three locations. To use same-day registration, a person must complete a voter registration application and show an election official proof of residential address in the county. This “proof of address” may consist of a current and valid photo ID or any Help America Vote Act (HAVA) document showing the name and current address of the applicant.

Voters can also hand-deliver completed absentee ballots to any one-stop voting site during the early voting period (April 28 – May 14). To hand-deliver your absentee ballot, simply wait in line at any one-stop location and turn in the ballot at the check-in table to be logged and received.

Curbside voting will be available at all one-stop sites for anyone unable to enter the voting location due to age, physical disability, and physical barriers encountered at the voting place.

Election Day is Tuesday, May 17, 2022. 

###

Now you can Pay for CCATS rides online! Visit the Payment Portal here:

https://carteretco.govtportal.com/

Notify Me allows you to subscribe to an unlimited number of email lists. Receive email updates regarding the information you have requested.

Notify Me allows you to subscribe to an unlimited number of email lists. Receive email updates regarding the information you have requested.

You can see all compiled News Releases and other pertinent information at the sites below:COVID-19 Quick Numbers Chart & MapCOVID-19 Press Releases & Information

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (April 1, 2026) – Carteret County Department of Social Services (DSS) will host a pinwheel planting at the Carteret County Courthouse in Beaufort at 9 a.m. Monday, April 6, to recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Joining DSS are our partners: NC Guardian ad Litem (GAL) District 4, the Carteret County Children’s Advocacy Center, and other community organizations.

The pinwheel is a national symbol of child abuse prevention, representing the hope, health, and happiness of all children. Communities across the country plant pinwheel gardens in April to raise awareness about child abuse.

After the planting, a community walk will take place. Attendees are encouraged to wear blue to show support. Those who cannot attend can plant pinwheels at home or work and share photos on social media.

Child abuse is a serious issue in the United States. In 2022, about 550,000 children were victims of abuse or neglect. Nearly 2,000 children died from abuse, a number that has risen steadily over the past five years, according to the National Children’s Alliance. Studies also show that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys experience abuse. Awareness and prevention are important in every community.

The pinwheel garden will stay on display through April 30.

To report suspected child abuse or neglect, contact the Carteret County DSS at 252-728-3181, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After hours, on weekends, or during holidays, call the County Communications Center at 252-726-1911 or dial 911 in an emergency.

For more information on child abuse prevention, visit preventchildabusenc.org. To learn about the Guardian ad Litem Program, visit volunteerforgal.org or call 252-639-3232.

###

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (April 1, 2026) – Carteret County is hosting a free latex paint recycling program throughout the month of April. Residents can drop off old or unused paint at two locations: 800 Hibbs Rd. in Newport and 485 Harkers Island Rd. in Otway.

The Carteret County Solid Waste Division continues this yearly project to keep waste out of landfills and help the environment. When residents recycle their latex paint, it can be turned into new paint or other products. This prevents harmful chemicals from leaking into local soil or water. All donated paint will also go to Habitat for Humanity projects to help build local homes.

To join the program, residents should bring paint in its original container with the label still attached. The paint must be in liquid form (paint that has not hardened or become a solid mass) or it will not be accepted. Please note that oil-based paints, solvents like turpentine and creosote and unlabeled cans are not part of this program.

“Recycling paint is a simple way to protect our environment,” Billy Merkley, Public Works director for Carteret County, said. “By keeping these items out of landfills, we are saving natural resources and finding new ways to use old materials.”

If you have items that are not accepted, like oil-based paints, you can bring them to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Saturday, April 25.

For more information about the recycling program, visit carteretcountync.gov or call the Public Works Department at 252-648-7878.

###

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (April 1, 2026) – The Carteret County Board of Commissioners proclaimed April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) during its March 31 meeting. The County joins Carteret S.P.E.A.K. and the nation in recognizing the 25th anniversary of National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The proclamation focuses on educating the community about how to prevent sexual assault and how to provide support for survivors. The 2026 SAAM theme, “25 Years Stronger: Looking Back, Moving Forward,” is a call to action for the Crystal Coast community. It asks residents to honor survivors and work toward a future where every person in Carteret County feels safe and respected.

Carteret S.P.E.A.K. (which stands for Support, Prevention, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Knowledge) remains the primary resource for survivors in the county.

"This month is about more than just awareness; it’s about solidarity," said Vicki Wank, Carteret S.P.E.A.K. director. "By looking back at how far we’ve come and moving forward with a focus on healing, we can continue to change the culture right here in our own backyard."

Sexual violence is a broad term for any unwanted sexual contact. This includes harassment, stalking, and sharing images without consent. Recent data shows the importance of this issue, revealing that over 53% of women and 29% of men experience contact sexual violence in their lifetime. Most survivors are harmed by someone they know, which shows why community awareness is so important.

“We are here to let survivors know we believe them, it is not their fault, and they are not alone,” Wank said.

Carteret S.P.E.A.K. invites residents, local businesses, and community leaders to attend three main events in April:

• Take Back the Night: 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 7: Carteret S.P.E.A.K. office, 300 Penny Lane, Morehead City. Visitors can browse a plant sale, learn about services for survivors, and join a walk of solidarity.
• TAPS, Talent, Art, Poetry Social: 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 18: Morehead City Parks and Recreation, 1600 Fisher St. Call 252-504-3668 to register. All are welcome to share their talents or watch others celebrate community through songs, art, and poetry.
• Denim Day: Wednesday, April 29: Residents are encouraged to wear denim to work or school to speak out against myths that blame victims. This global movement started after a 1998 court ruling wrongly suggested a victim's tight jeans implied consent.

Carteret S.P.E.A.K. provides crisis help, support, and prevention services to survivors across Carteret County. Through education and outreach, the program works to build a safer environment for everyone. The program’s mission is to help neighbors find their voices while encouraging the community to speak up for survivors and take steps toward prevention.

Community members can support the program by attending events, volunteering, or sharing resources. For help or more information, please contact 252-504-3668. For more resources, visit carteretcountync.gov/SPEAK.

###

CARTERET COUNTY, NC – Detectives with the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division arrested a Carteret County man Monday on charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors.

The suspect, Lester David Gillberg, 31, of Newport, NC, is charged with five counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Gillberg was arrested as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigation. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office ICAC Unit began the investigation after discovering the suspect possessed files of child sexual abuse material. Detectives took Gillberg into custody and equipment used to facilitate the crime was seized as evidence.

Gillberg is currently in the Carteret County Jail under a $500,000 secured bond. His first court appearance was Tuesday morning.

To report child sexual exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, call 1-800-THE-LOST or online at www.cybertipline.org.

###

CARTERET COUNTY, NC – On Saturday, April 30, 2022, Carteret County law enforcement agencies will hold the spring “Pills Can Kill” prescription drug take back event.

This one-day event will make it convenient for the public to rid their homes of potentially dangerous prescription drugs. From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., citizens will be able to drop off their unused prescription medication to deputies and police officers who will be at all five Food Lion locations in Carteret County. The group will not be able to accept liquids, needles, or sharps of any kind.

“We really want to focus on getting “controlled” medication, especially painkillers, out of people’s homes if they are no longer needed. Reducing access and availability helps to prevent misuse of these drugs,” said Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck.

If citizens can’t make it to the event Saturday, the sheriff’s office and police departments across the county have medication disposal drop boxes in their lobbies and are available during normal business hours.

Another important part of the “Pills Can Kill” program is the safe storage of medication. Many people have to keep these medicines in their homes. It is imperative that people store their medication in a manner that prevents others from accessing them. Some helpful tips are: 

• Don’t leave medication out in plain view.
• Don’t keep medication in obvious places (i.e. the medicine cabinet or the cabinet over the kitchen sink.)
• Keep “controlled” medication (painkillers, anxiety drugs) in a secure place known only to you and a trusted family member.
• Keep a count of your medication.

Since 2008, the program has collected and destroyed over 3.6 million dosage units of unused prescription medications.

The sheriff thanks all Carteret County citizens who continue to support this program and make Carteret County a safer place.

###