JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- The Jacksonville Police Department is partnering with The Governors Highway Safety Program to offer motorcyclists Rider Skills Days with assessments on current skills and professional advice to increase motorcycle safety. The Jacksonville Police Department has been a BikeSafe sponsor since 2010, with Traffic Lieutenant Phillip Williams serving as Regional Coordinator and Sergeant James Smallwood serving as Site Coordinator. JPD has four BikeSafe Assessors, all of whom are certified instructors. The next class JPD will be hosting is May 10 at 8:45 a.m. The class will take ..read more

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) -- A former Navy corpsman pled guilty in court on Tuesday to the death of a 2-year-old. Ricardo Montesinos appeared in an Onslow County courtroom in January 2020 after Jacksonville police responded to a medical call where they found a deceased 2-year-old. Now, more than four years later, the victim’s family may finally see closure.  Originally charged with first-degree murder, Montesinos, who is from Jacksonville, pled guilty on Tuesday to second-degree murder in the death of Annaley Ratliff. This was an especially tough case, Onslow County Assistant Distric ..read more

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) -- NASA astronaut and Jacksonville native Christina Koch returned to her high school, White Oak High School, on Thursday to share her experience in space. Koch said her love of space started in Jacksonville. "I loved looking up through the pine trees in my backyard at the night sky. I loved anything that made me feel small. These things made me ponder the size of the universe," Koch said. "I credit Camp LeJeune. I grew up around so many different people from all over the world, so many different languages, so many different ways of being. That was one of the coolest t ..read more

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday awarded Jacksonville native, N.C. State grad and astronaut Christina Koch the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. It's the state's highest honorary society recognition. “Astronaut Koch’s journey from North Carolina public schools to space is inspiring to all of us and shows the amazing opportunities that come from a public education in our state,” said Cooper. “When we invest in our public schools, we invest in the future of our state and planet.” Cooper also honored Koch for her accomplishments and celebrated North Carolina’s STEM education programs ..read more

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) -- Camp Lejeune is honoring former members of the military who served during the Vietnam War. MCB Camp Lejeune Marines, Sailors, civilians, civic and community leaders as well as former service members will recognize Vietnam Veterans during a ceremony on Saturday. The event will take place at 10 a.m. at 109 Montford Landing Rd. in Jacksonville. There will be speakers as well as US Marine Corps Colonel Michael J. Fitzgerald, chief of staff, Marine Corps Installations East MCB Camp Lejeune. Sammy Phillips, the mayor of Jacksonville, Walter Scott, the commissioner of Ons ..read more

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- It is that time of year again when spring is upon us and so is spring cleaning but don’t fret, the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office is here to help! The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. This is a day when you can drop off any unused medication to be destroyed with no questions asked. Go ahead and clean out that medicine cabinet with confidence and drop off those unused medications at one of our partner drop-off locations. The event is on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 10 am to 2 pm. The locations will ..read more

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- Volunteer Onslow, a program of United Way of Onslow County, will recognize the accomplishments and commitment demonstrated by outstanding community volunteers in the area’s largest local volunteer recognition ceremony. The 2024 Golden Rule Lightkeeper Awards, will be held Thursday April 25 at a ceremony for the nominees. In partnership with the Onslow Civic Affairs committee, the Fabric of Our Community inductees will also be recognized. The ceremony will be held at the Onslow County Government Commissioners Chambers at 11:00am. Nominated individuals and groups volunteere ..read more

IOWA CITY, IOWA -- White Oak High School in Jacksonville has earned the American College Campaign's 2023 School of Excellence honor. It's one of 27 schools across the country to receive the honor. American College Application Campaign is a national effort to increase the number of first-generation college students and students from low-income families pursuing a college degree or other higher education credential, announced its fifth annual 2023 School of Excellence awardees, a group of 27 exemplary schools that are helping students pursue postsecondary success. “We are incredibly excited to r ..read more

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) -- The City of Jacksonville has placed the Freedom Fountain in "mourning status" to recognize the Camp Lejeune Marine who died during a training accident in Carteret County last week. Sgt. Colin Arslanbas, who is from Missouri, died on April 18. He was identified last Saturday. He was a reconnaissance Marine assigned to the Maritime Special Purpose Force, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. It is also a tradition of the Onslow Civic Affairs committee to place a wreath at the fountain for those active duty service members who have died wh ..read more

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (WNCT) -- The identity of the Camp Lejeune Marine who died during a training accident in Carteret County has been identified. In a press release from II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, officials said the Marine who died was Sgt. Colin Arslanbas, 23. Officials said he died just after 11 p.m. on Thursday. He was assigned to the Maritime Special Purpose Force, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Lejeune. "Words cannot convey our sorrow for the tragic loss of one of our MEU family members," said Col. Todd Mahar, a 24th MEU commanding officer. "The 24th MEU family ..read more