June 2024 Edition

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Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricane Season begins June 1st, and we encourage you to start preparations in advance so you are ready for an emergency. Don't wait until a storm is heading our way - start assembling your hurricane kit now.

Visit our website for hurricane preparedness information, including which items you should have in your emergency kit, trusted sources for severe weather information, and more.

We will have a series of hurricane preparedness videos released over the coming weeks, which you can view on our social media feeds and website.

Big Rock Week Approaches:

Traffic Safety Reminder

As we move into June, we will see an increase of visitors to Morehead City, especially from June 7th - 16th as the 66th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament and its affiliated events take place. We encourage you to drive carefully, keep an eye out for increased pedestrian traffic downtown, and to welcome everyone to our city!

Did you know that Morehead City staff plays an integral role in this annual event? From Police, Fire-EMS and more, you can expect to see a number of our employees on site, as well as keeping operations running smoothly throughout the rest of the City.

Watch our video from last year's Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament to get a snapshot of our role in this popular fishing tournament. Stay tuned for a new video that will air on our social media feeds the first week of June, ahead of this year's tournament.

Fourth of July Fireworks

Celebrate the Fourth of July in Morehead City!

Fireworks will bloom over the downtown waterfront, starting around 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 4th. The fireworks will be launched from Sugarloaf Island, and will provide a spectacular show for all to enjoy.

Stormwater Project

Moves Forward

Work continues to progress on the stormwater improvement project along a portion of Shepard Street.

Thanks to a $2.4 Million Emergency Management Disaster Relief and Mitigation Grant, Morehead City is currently working on a stormwater improvement project that will tackle issues along the downtown waterfront. 

This project is taking place along S. 9th Street, between Evans and Shepard Street, and from the intersection at S. 10th to approximately S. 8th Street along Shepard St. Work began in early April, and the roadway will be closed down in phases and will remain closed for roughly a year while work is underway.

The closures will also impact Jaycee Park, and Morehead City staff has worked with area event organizers to ensure they have sufficient footprint to conduct their regular operations. This will include moving Downtown Morehead City, Inc.,'s Alive at Five concerts to Katherine Davis Park, as well as utilizing space for the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament and the NC Seafood Festival, among other events in the area.

While Jaycee Park will be closed for the majority of the project, the boardwalk area, bathrooms and transient docks will remain open and accessible. 

Currently, Shepard Street is closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic between 9th and 10th streets. The 9th Street Parking Lot is also closed.

The $2.4 million-dollar grant from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety will provide lasting results, without placing the cost burden on our citizens. It will also set the stage for future expansion of this stormwater project, whenever funds become available again. 

Ralph Hodge Construction was awarded the contract to do the work on this important stormwater project. 

Advance Morehead City:

A New Code for 2025

Advance Morehead City is an initiative being undertaken by Morehead City to update the City’s development regulations to improve the function and appearance of the built environment. On July 8 and 9, the public is invited to provide input on the Advance Morehead City project. This project led by Morehead City Staff and CodeWright Planners and will result in a new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that will guide the growth and development of the City for years to come. 

The UDO is a regulatory document that incorporates land use regulations to include subdivision, flood damage prevention, and zoning standards for parking, signage, landscaping, driveway spacing, open space, sidewalks, trails, and more. 

On Monday, July 8th, at 5:30 p.m., CodeWright Planners staff will present the Code Diagnosis. The Code Diagnosis provides a series of recommendations for changes to the City’s rules, like making the UDO easier to read or raising the bar for development quality. The presentation will be in the City Council Chambers at 1100 Bridges Street. An open house with refreshments will be held immediately following the presentation in the upstairs foyer, where participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and speak with city staff and the consultant team in more detail. 

The code diagnosis includes three components: a proposed framework of changes to the current UDO; a blueprint of the new UDO; and a gap analysis between the City's adopted policy guidance and current regulations. 

On Tuesday, July 9th, between the hours of 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., residents and business owners will have the opportunity to schedule one-on-one office hours with CodeWright Planners to learn more about the project and ask questions about how it might impact their land or development. These appointments can be made by contacting the Planning and Inspections Office at 252-726-6848, ext. 125, before July 1st.

To follow the progress of the Advance Morehead City project, please visit the project website at advancemoreheadcity.com.

Seize the Day with Morehead City Parks and Recreation

Are you interested in serving on our Parks and Recreation Advisory Board? You are encouraged to submit an application online at moreheadcitync.org by Wednesday, June 5th. 

Learn more about the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board on our website.  

Apply here to be considered for a spot on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

June is a great month to take advantage of all that Morehead City Parks and Recreation has to offer!

• Registration is open for Summer Soccer Camp, which is taking place June 10th-13th. This is for children ages 7-14 and you can find full details and the registration in the link above.
• Youth Tennis Camps will be held in late June, for students ages 7-14, based on experience levels. Visit our website for full details and registration.
• Beginners Open Play Pickleball will take place June 3rd - July 22nd on Mondays and Thursdays. Full details on Beginners Open Play Pickleball are on our website.
• Parks and Recreation also offers Open Play Pickleball for more experienced players. You can find this information on our website under "Open Play Pickleball."
• NFL Flag Football is coming to Morehead City Parks and Recreation! This camp will occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays from August 13th - October 24th. Registration opens June 21st online or in person at the Recreation Center. Additional information on NFL Flag Football can be found on our website.

View the June calendar of fitness classes below that are open to both members and non-members. Most classes are free to members, and pro-rated memberships are now available for the rest of the year.

Curb Market Season Continues

The Morehead City Curb Market has been off to a strong start this past month!

It is located on the corner of 13th and Evans streets.

We are delighted to have several returning vendors and to introduce new ones to our corner. The Market will occur every Saturday throughout the season from

8 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

Night Markets will be held on the third Thursday of every month, and the next one will take place June 20th. Mark your calendars and visit the night vendors from 6-8 p.m.

For more information about the Curb Market, please call 252-241-2773. 

Morehead City Police Promotes Four

The Morehead City Police Department has promoted four hardworking employees in recent weeks - please join us in congratulating them! 

Chief Bryan Dixon is seen with Sergeant Phillip Kilgore, top left; Lieutenant Zach Leach, top right; Senior Police Officer Charlie Millea, bottom right; and Senior Police Officer Jonathan Sloan, bottom left.

Learn more about MCPD here on our website, including our latest recruitment video.

NC Law Enforcement Torch Run

Members of the Morehead City Police Department and neighboring agencies

participated in the Law Enforcement Special Olympics Torch Run on May 7th. 

The group began at MCPD, at 300 N. 12th Street, and continued along Arendell Street through the western end of Morehead City. It was a collaborative effort, between those carrying the torch and running, to other officers directing traffic. This was an awareness event for the NC Special Olympics and is one way our department supports this initiative.

MCFD Safety Message:

Adding In Case of Emergency details to your phone

Morehead City Fire-EMS encourages everyone to have the In Case of Emergency details, known as ICE, filled out on your phone. This critical information can be utilized from your lock screen by first responders in the event of an emergency - both Fire-EMS and Police.

This feature is available for both iPhone and Android users and can make a real difference when our team is responding in your time of need.

Funds Donated to Autism Society

The Morehead City Fire-EMS-Rescue Auxiliary was able to donate $1,122 to the Crystal Coast Chapter of the Autism Society, thanks to members of the public buying the limited edition Autism Acceptance shirts sold earlier this year. 

Members of Morehead City Fire-EMS were on hand to give the check to representatives of the Autism Society of NC - Crystal Coast Chapter on May 24th.

Morehead City Library Events

The Morehead City Library, at 202 S. Eighth Street, offers something for everyone - if you haven't checked it out lately, June is a great time to stop by! 

Learn more about the great opportunities available at the Library this coming month by clicking on the items that interest you most:

• Morehead City Read, Renew, Repeat Summer Reading Challenge: Now through August 31st on Beanstalk.
• Knit Wits: This knitting group meets each Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.
• Book Club: Meets the first Thursday of each month at 1 p.m., and will discuss Becoming Mrs. Lewis on June 6th. 
• Library Youth Advisory Board: Meets the first Thursday of each month at 5 p.m.This month they will meet June 6th to plan summer reading program activities for July and August.
• Matinee Movie: This month Hidden Figures (2016) will be shown on Tuesday, June 11th, at 1 p.m. on the second story of the library.
• Crafternoon with Carol: An introduction to watercolors class for adults. Space is limited, call in advance to secure your spot.

• Preschool Story Time: Children ages 2-6 with a caregiver can attend Preschool Story Time at 9:30 and 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and 11 a.m. on Wednesdays. This month's themes include:

June 4-5: Oceans and Fish

June 11-12: Father's Day

June 18-19: Watermelons

June 25-26: Crabs

You can learn more about the Library's variety of resources on our website.

We're Hiring -

Apply Today

Are you ready for a positive career change? The Town of Morehead City is now hiring for the following full time and part-time positions:

• Purchasing Manager
• Planning/GIS Technician
• Police Officer
• Police Cadet - Full Time
• Recreation Assistant (Part-time)

You can find additional details on these positions

and apply online through the button below.

Battle of the Badges Supports Community in a Big Way

Thank you to all who donated at the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive on May 9th! Kristin Willis with the American Red Cross announced the winner of the votes cast, along with the number of units collected to help those in our community.

It was an extremely close contest, with one team winning by just four votes - was it Team Blue (Morehead City Police Department) or Team Red (Morehead City Fire-EMS) that was crowned the winner of the inaugural event? Watch our video to find out!

1100 Bridges Street

Morehead City, NC 28557

252-726-6848