Community Corner
🌱 How a late-night Jones County crash shattered two local communities
Spotted on the Havelock calendar: Santa in the Sunroom

Greetings Havelock! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How a late-night Jones County crash shattered two local communities
- How did a Havelock sophomore break into the all-state ranks?
- How New Bern’s power decisions shaped electric service reaching Havelock
Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Havelockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: Times of sun and clouds, with a high of 66 and low of 62 degrees.
- Friday: Windy, then not as warm, temps: high: 69, low: 33.
- Saturday: Sunny and cooler, with a high of 55 and low of 42 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Community mourns Spunky McDoogle's employees after deadly Jones County crash (wcti12.com) — A 23-year-old Havelock resident, Aaron Overman, was among two Spunky McDoogle’s employees killed in a violent Jones County rollover crash that also seriously injured a coworker. The early-morning wreck on 10 Mile Fork Road has left the New Bern restaurant closed and the wider community grieving, as friends rally around the victims’ families and hope for the survivor’s recovery.
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Find out what's happening in Havelockfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
• The 2025 HighSchoolOT All-State Boys Cross Country Team (highschoolot.com) — Havelock High School sophomore Cameron Bitts earned an Honorable Mention spot on the 2025 HighSchoolOT All-State boys cross country team with a strong 15:54.66 finish in the 5A championship. The list highlights top runners from across North Carolina, putting Bitts and Havelock on the statewide distance-running map and giving local fans a reason to celebrate this season’s success.
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• Then and now: New Bern's public power utility (newbernnow.com) — New Bern’s city-run electric utility, which also serves parts of Havelock, has spent decades juggling bond debt, rate changes, and fund transfers that ultimately affect what local customers pay. This historical timeline explains how regional power plant deals, coal ash rules, and Duke Energy agreements shaped today’s rates, infrastructure investments, and reliability, including a substation project near Havelock to improve backup capacity during outages.
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📸 Around Havelock
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📣 Havelock Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
- Coffee with a Cop
7500 Emerald Dr , Emerald Isle
2:00 pm - Christmas Business After Hours & Open House
New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce
5:00 pm - Open Mic Night
The Brown Pelican , 1017B Broad St , New Bern
6:00 pm - 30 Seconds at Brutopia
BrÜtopia Brewing Company , 1201 US-70 , New Bern
6:30 pm - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Event
New Bern Civic Theatre , 414 Pollock St , New Bern
7:00 pm - Big Jim Kohler and Eddie Big Legs Martin
Bootleggers and Barrels , 417 S Front St , New Bern
7:00 pm - DoubleTree by Hilton Brings You Alisa Mike for the Holidays
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel New Bern Riverfront , 100 Middle St , New Bern
6:00 pm - Holiday Lip Synco
The Silos Restaurant , 1111 Broad St Ext , Oriental
6:30 pm - 4EverAll @ Bogue Sound Distillery
Bogue Sound Distillery , 108 Bogue Commercial Dr , Bogue
7:00 pm - A Very BOOMY Christmas
New Bern Civic Theatre , 414 Pollock St , New Bern
7:30 pm - The Magic of Christmas
New Bern Civic Theatre , 414 Pollock St , New Bern
3:00 pm
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- It may be chilly outside, but wild animals are built for it.
Rabbits, squirrels, deer, and even birds have natural adaptations such as thick fur, cozy nests, and food-storing habits that help them survive… (Nextdoor )
- Acosta, Inc. posted a job opening for Retail Coverage Merchandiser - Walmart in Havelock. Apply here.
- McDonald's Restaurants posted a job opening for Openers/Early Bird Crew - $12.00/hour + Tuition in Havelock. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Havelock here.
🗞 Nearby News
Newport
- Newport man charged after setting truck on fire and assaulting victim with gasoline (wcti12.com)
- Kannon McBride passes 1,000 career points as Croatan basketball teams sweep West Carteret (highschoolot.com)
Morehead City
- State Board Orders New Election in Morehead City; Denies Blackwell Appeal (wcti12.com)
- Coast Guard Foundation awards record $925K in scholarships to 255 students for 2025-2026 (wcti12.com)
New Bern
Ok Havelock! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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