Community Corner

🌱 Will Kinston help fund the Bird Dawgs to save local baseball?

Make time for Arendell Parrott Academy vs Wayne Christian on the Kinston Patch calendar

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Good morning Kinston! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Will Kinston help fund the Bird Dawgs to save local baseball?
  • What changes as Kinston's new city manager takes the helm?
  • How will MasterBrand's 391 job cuts hit Kinston families?

Also on today's calendar: Bethel Christian Academy vs Hilltop Christian and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Partly sunny and very warm, with a high of 90 and low of 63 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Friday: Toasty conditions, temps: high: 93, low: 68.
  • Saturday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 84 and low of 65 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Kinston, Lenoir County consider funding for Bird Dawgs (wcti12.com) — City of Kinston and Lenoir County leaders are weighing a request to give the Down East Bird Dawgs $125,000 each this year and next to stabilize baseball at Grainger Stadium. Team partners say the money would support events, marketing, and upgrades that could bring up to $2 million in tourism and local spending while preserving a beloved family pastime.
   

2. Kinston City Managers Work Together to Keep the Leadership Transition Smooth for Residents and Employees — Neuse News (neusenews.com) — Kinston's new City Manager, Jon Mendenhall, is working closely with outgoing Interim Manager Ralph Clark to ensure residents see no disruption in trash pickup, utilities, public safety, or permitting. They're reviewing budgets, capital projects, and staffing, while planning employee and public listening sessions so community priorities shape city operations during this leadership transition.
   

3. MasterBrand to cut up to 391 jobs at Kinston facility (wcti12.com) — Hundreds of jobs are being cut at MasterBrand's Kinston manufacturing facility as the company ends its Value Semi-Custom cabinet operations, with layoffs starting in late November. While Custom and Component operations will continue, this marks a major reversal after recent state-backed expansion plans and could significantly affect local families, the workforce, and Kinston's economy.
   

4. Kinston Police Department: Case Update — Neuse News (neusenews.com) — Kinston-area detectives have expanded their marijuana trafficking investigation, arresting additional family members of an earlier suspect and seizing thousands of dollars in cash. New charges now include multiple counts of trafficking, conspiracy, and maintaining dwellings for drugs, with one suspect still hospitalized and awaiting service of warrants tied to the ongoing Lenoir County case.
   

📸 Around Kinston

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Kinston

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Check out the excellent in-person and virtual fishing classes being offered by the NCWRC Fishing Education Team in October.
    Visit our class calendar and register at: https://bit.ly/44YkCxs Pechmann Fishing Education Center in Fayetteville: October 2: Soft Plastics Lure… (Nextdoor )
  • Need help with an unemployment claim?
    Thursdays and Fridays are the best days to call #NCDES for claims questions because our UI Support Center typically has lower call volume. Prefer… (Nextdoor )
  • Food Lion posted a job opening for PT Center Store Associate in Kinston. Apply here.
  • PDS Tech, Inc. posted a job opening for Assembly Technician in Kinston. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Kinston here.

Ok Kinston! 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: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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