Comments | Eastern NC Now

Governments, Bureaucracies, parents and many humans, operate under the theory:
"Most problems go away if you just wait long enough" ~ Dilbert quote.

Dont give up Gary. Become a pain in their a**.
Its the only way forward.

p.s. The Governor's Office has a HotLine too.

Commented: Tuesday, April 1st, 2025 @ 10:13 am By: Washingtonian

What Beaufort County has is 1) a domineering superintendant trying to build a resume for his next job around school consolidation here with no concern about the impact on people here, and 2) and out of touch and totally superintendant-controlled school board majority.

Commented: Tuesday, April 1st, 2025 @ 8:03 am By: John Steed

A few years back, I had an important issue with school board members, which has turned out to be yet another miscue in the management of Beaufort County Schools, so I called all of the school board members.

Incredibly, less than a third of all school board members called me back, and as I dug deeper into this sorry piece of business, none of the current school board members, except T.W Allen (to his credit) called me back.

Now, to put a finer point on this matter: Not only am I a large and steady taxpayer here in Beaufort County, I was at that time a 6 term county commissioner, and since I was, at that time embroiled in yet another primary, and then a general election for my seventh term as a county commissioner as a Conservative Republican, I still could not muster a call back any of these faux public servants, accepting T.W. Allen.

Now to put an even grander point on my self-supposed gravitas, I am significantly senior to all school board members in offices held, and senior as all of these so-called Republicans, plus, from a categorical position, somewhat senior in intellectual acuity when it comes to all knowledge in all matters regarding proven governing prowess ... and yet, still neary a call back from any of these junior grade politicians relative to what comprises the whole of Stan Deatherage.

It was at that point, I lost any and all confidence in the political and governing abilities of these school board members ever getting anything right. In NO way do I consider any those Knockoff Republicans a peer, and therefore questionable in any manner of their effectiveness in dealing with the People's business.

In current times here in Beaufort County, there are four new Republican school board members, and I do expect, and will command a more reasonable level of respect from them, and, likewise, they will therefore be treated accordingly with that same respect their office commands.

Commented: Tuesday, April 1st, 2025 @ 4:33 am By: Stan Deatherage

That’s a mess worth digging into. Your local school board’s situation reeks of sloppy planning and questionable decision-making, starting with the superintendent pushing a mega elementary school without any clear evidence it’s needed. No studies? That’s a red flag—sounds like a pet project steamrolling ahead without justification. Then there’s the lottery grant—$42 million, plus a $10 million taxpayer match, already fully budgeted, yet they didn’t even confirm they owned the land? That’s not just incompetence; it’s reckless.
The Hite Associates angle adds another layer of stink. They’ve got a history—tied to a South Carolina scandal where the Beaufort County School District got subpoenaed by the FBI in 2018 over shady school construction deals. The firm worked with a superintendent named Jeff Moss, who had a habit of hiring them across multiple districts, and costs ballooned way beyond initial estimates. If they’re still under investigation, your board’s decision to bring them on is either oblivious or deliberately sketchy. You’d think they’d vet architects with that kind of baggage, especially for a $52 million project.
The land snafu is almost comical if it weren’t so infuriating. Four acres owned by the city, and the superintendent just slaps a $500,000 price tag on it—out of thin air, no appraisal, no negotiation? That’s not how you handle public funds. Taxpayers are already on the hook for $10 million, and now they’re expected to cough up more because of this oversight? The fact that the full budget’s already spoken for, yet this wasn’t accounted for, suggests either gross mismanagement or someone’s hiding how the money’s really being spent.
Here’s what doesn’t add up: Why no studies to justify the school? Why Hite Associates, given their track record? And how does a superintendent get to unilaterally value land and commit taxpayer dollars without oversight? Sounds like the board’s either asleep at the wheel or complicit.

Commented: Monday, March 31st, 2025 @ 11:11 pm By: Will Simmons

There is a reason that folks in Hungary call the EU the "EUSSR". There is a lot of Soviet mentality in the anti-democratic structure of the EU. More countries need to follow the Brexit route.

Commented: Monday, March 31st, 2025 @ 1:44 pm By: Steven P. Rader

I followed up numerous times and even contacted the State Auditor.

Commented: Monday, March 31st, 2025 @ 12:59 pm By: Gary Ceres

Washingtonian:

Over 2 years of non-compliance from the Housing Authority. They have not turned over a single reciept that was requested.

Commented: Monday, March 31st, 2025 @ 12:58 pm By: Gary Ceres

CV: So, you're saying she understands it, but is spinning it for people that do not understand it.

Commented: Monday, March 31st, 2025 @ 12:48 pm By: Van Zant

I don't think so. My father, by the same name, is a Korean War vet. His father by the same name was a merchant mariner for a time.

Commented: Monday, March 31st, 2025 @ 11:55 am By: Charles Hickman

I wish those two conservatives had held firm. I understand that Cheeseman was putting out the word that he would move teachers from schools in their district and then blame them if they did not go along. Cheeseman plays dirty pool, as do those who associate with him.

What we need is a school board majority that is not in Cheeseman's hip pocket, but as long as a majority are, our school system is in a mess,

Commented: Monday, March 31st, 2025 @ 10:28 am By: John Steed

Using your words not mine, once again you left out two of the sniveling rats, Shreve and Carlton. Your own conservative PAC loyalists, or are they really, which one made the motion to close Snowden and the other supported. You just can't stand the truth can you. I may not live south of the river but I watch and pay attention. Maybe you should.

Commented: Monday, March 31st, 2025 @ 6:56 am By: True Republican