Kinston native serves aboard one of the Navy’s most versatile combat ships Updated at

SAN DIEGO – A 2010 South Lenior High School graduate and Kinston native is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of a crew working aboard one of the country's most versatile combat ships. Petty Officer 2nd Class Perry Witherspoon is an information systems technician serving aboard USS Gabrielle Giffords based in San Diego.

Kinston fire department readies new engine

The 42,000-pound fire truck, a 2017 Pierce Enforcer PUC , arrived at Kinston Fire Department Friday, announced as a “bouncing baby girl” on the department's Facebook page. The truck is expected to be road ready by the end of the month, said Commander Bo Hobbs of the Kinston Fire Department.

Top stories: No. 1 – Hurricane Matthew brought historic flooding to Kinston

In early October residents of Lenoir County experienced one of the worst floods in the state's history Hurricane Matthew. The Neuse River reached flood levels just days after Hurricane Matthew hit Eastern North Carolina and peaked Oct. 14 at 28.31 feet, passing the previous 27.71-foot record set by Hurricane Floyd on Sept.