Mayor Jeffrey Odham

10/15/2026

It’s been a little over one month since we at the City of New Bern, NC Government and our partners at New Bern Housing Authority were awarded the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant. New Bern is the smallest city EVER to receive this award. The next steps have begun and we are thrilled at what the future holds. Signs are up, but there is much work happening behind the scenes as you will start to see visible progress early next year. Congratulations to all who helped make this dream (and what many said would never happen), become reality!

Special thanks to Congressman Greg Murphy, MD, Congressman Don Davis, and Senator Ted Budd. Each one of them visited our city, toured the neighborhood and provided their support along the way!

For more info, you can visit www.choicenewbern.com

10/09/2026

Today I had the honor of visiting with Ms. Annie B. Gibbs and delivering her a proclamation for her 103rd birthday!

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PROCLAMATION Honoring Annie B. Gibbs on the Occasion of Her One Hundred and Third Birthday

WHEREAS, Annie B. Gibbs was born on October 8, 1923, in Goshen, just outside Po***cksville, to Earl and Lucy L. Watson Gibbs, and was raised with seven brothers and sisters in New Bern’s Duffyfield community, where she learned early that a person must work to take care of family; and

WHEREAS, she became the first in her family to graduate from the eighth grade and the first to attend college, working her way through Winston-Salem State Teachers College, now Winston-Salem State University, and then giving approximately thirty-five years to the classroom in Cove City, North Harlowe, and the New Bern Public Schools, retiring from H. J. MacDonald School on May 30, 1985; and

WHEREAS, in 1965 she was one of two African American teachers who helped integrate New Bern’s public schools, and she likewise took part in the integration of Central School, Head Start, and Tabernacle Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, she became the first African American tour guide at Tryon Palace, and the first to wear the traditional historic gown there, and she became the first African American to live in a historic home in downtown New Bern and the first African American woman to own a home in the City’s historic district; and

WHEREAS, in 1947 she married Leon Clyde Nixon and raised two daughters, Melbea Jean and Vicki Dean, and she has carried through her life the words of Isaiah 40:31 and a simple charge to the next generation: have faith, work hard, get an education, and do not let anyone say you cannot; and

WHEREAS, a little girl born into poverty has come full circle, and it is fitting that this City pause on the eighth day of October, Two Thousand and Twenty-Six, to honor her one hundred and third birthday.

10/05/2026

UPDATE 10/6/26 4:20 PM - Juvenile Located

A’keela Ray has been located and is safe.

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Missing Juvenile reported at Craven Early College New Bern, N.C.

The Craven County Sheriff's Office needs the public's assistance in locating a missing juvenile, A'keela Ray, 16, who was last seen on October 5, 2026 at approximately 9:30 AM on surveillance footage leaving Craven Early College, located on Glenburnie Road in New Bern, N.C., on foot towards Glenburnie Road and she was alone.

A'keela Ray was last seen wearing a pink hoodie, brown pants, black shoes, and was carrying a black book bag.

If anyone knows the whereabouts or has any information on A'keela Ray please contact the Craven County Sheriff's Office at (252) 636-6620 or Craven County Communications at (252) 633-2357. You can also submit tips anonymously through the Craven County Crime Stoppers app at http://p3tips.com/986

10/02/2026

This week’s edition of the City Manager’s Weekly Report is now available!

Highlights Include:
-Legislative Updates
-National Night Out
-Henderson Park Rededication
-Middle & Po***ck Crosswalk reopening
-Completion of the new pier parking lot
-Railroad Repairs and traffic detours

A new report is available every Friday. Read this week’s edition here:
https://www.newbernnc.gov/document_center/administration/Weekly%20Reports/2026/City%20Manager's%20Weekly%20Report%2010-2-26%20Final.pdf?t=202610021555110

Previous Issues of the City Manager’s Weekly report are available here:
https://www.newbernnc.gov/departments/administration/monthly_departmental_reports.php

09/29/2026

Happy National Son’s Day! No greater honor than to be a father.

09/27/2026

I’m grateful to have been present when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated nearly 80,000 pounds of food to help families across New Bern and Wilmington. The donation included shelf-stable essentials such as canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, flour, pancake mix, and dried milk. Local pantries, meal sites, and community partners will distribute the food to neighbors who need it.

The need is urgent. One in six of our neighbors does not have enough food to eat and pantry visits are rising. As mayor, I’m thankful for partnerships like this and for everyone working to make sure our neighbors have food on the table.

09/22/2026

The next phase of the downtown fishing pier is progressing! Some have questioned the design of the Broad Street extension, so I'm going to provide some explanation. The black and white photo shows the old Bridgeton Bridge that diagonally dissected the corner property (which is now owned by Craven County). When the bridge was removed, NCDOT provided the City of New Bern with an easement as an extension of Broad Street so the corner property, that was previously owned by the Sudan Shriners, could be more usable. The "fishing pier parking lot" is not simply a parking lot; it is an extension of Broad Street. The easement from NCDOT would not allow a parking lot to be built on that strip of land, therefore, what is being constructed is designed as a street with a cul-de-sac at the end.

For those that are questioning the cost or deeming this as a "waste of taxpayer dollars", I've got good news for you... Unless you are a property owner within the MSD (Municipal Service District) in our downtown, your tax dollars were not used for this endeavor. The MSD advisory board voted unanimously to have their tax dollars used for this project.

The next phase will include a mobile restroom facility (not porta-johns) that can be removed when a storm event occurs. Parking at Persimmons, The Galley Store, or on the grass was never a long-term solution. The public has asked for more access to the water and that is what we delivered. Looking forward to the project completion and the continued utilization of this wonderful amenity.

09/16/2026

Great job by our Public Works staff for winning the “𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿” from the NC chapter of the American Public Works Association for the Duffyfield Stormwater Enhancement Project. For years we have heard about the neglect and lack of investment in this neighborhood. Over the last several years, we have made a conscious effort to change that perception and now millions of dollars later, tremendous progress has been made!

This project - in one of the most low-lying areas of the city - included a pump station, pond & constructed wetlands to capture stormwater runoff from approximately 59 acres. It will help with nuisance rain & flood mitigation, improve water quality & enhance aquatic habitat. The project also provides unique pedestrian amenities in Duffyfield.

09/11/2026

09/05/2026

Congrats New Bern High School!
Another year, another Bear win over the Eagles. Mayor Chad knows the deal 😝