Each year, the Washington Daily News asks readers to nominate the top stories of the year. This year, the Washington Daily News Editorial Board compiled a list of 30 significant stories of 2012 and asked readers to choose the top 10 stories on the list.  Readers voted this story as the No. 9 story of 2012.
See Thursday’s Daily News for numbers seven and eight on the list.
(Original story published June 2, 2012.)

CHOCOWINITY – Fire destroyed Spencer Packing Company in the wee hours of Friday, June 1.
The family-owned business employed nine people, was the creator of Ole Tar Heel sausages and a mainstay of Washington business. Spencer Packing Company was also the sole supplier of the dogs that put the dog in Bill’s Hot Dogs.
The Chocowinity Fire Department was first called out to Spencer Packing Company, formerly known as Washington Packing Company, around 2 p.m. Thursday, May 31, when an electrical fire was reported. While the fire was contained and the source identified, at 5:30 a.m. Friday morning, another report of an  electrical fire came in, according to Chocowinity Fire Department Fire Chief Tommy Pendley.
Along with Washington Fire-Rescue-EMS and volunteer fire departments from Bunyan, Blounts Creek and Clarks Neck, the Chocowinity department was on the scene for more than eight hours, battling the flames consuming the 30,000 square-foot building.
Owner Harold Spencer said the outpouring of condolences and support from the community was overwhelming.
No injuries were reported.