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Mama Lou’s It’s a story of a family recipe that has reached a wider audience. Read about Rocky Point’s Mama Lou’s Barbecue Sauce on page 1B.
Volume 44, No. 34
POST Voice The Pender-Topsail
&
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Third round Three high school teams from Pender County made it to the third round of the state playoffs. Read about it in sports on page 10A.
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Williams says board is doing everything they can to curb the increase
County tax increase could top 18 cents By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher Pender County manager Randall Woodruff has submitted an 18-cent tax increase in the upcoming budget – and according to Board of Commissioner’s Chairman David Williams, the board is doing all they can to lower the increase. “We are trying and optimistic that we can do better than that,” Williams said. “We knew there was more on top of the school bonds, but I don’t
believe anyone was counting on something that high.” County manager Randall Woodruff says this year’s county budget will be very tight. Currently it includes a 1.5 percent cost of living raise for county employees, but that may have to go to help reign in the tax increase. “The tax increase would take our rate from 51 cents to 69 cents. It is substantial. We are still working on the budget. Commissioners have ideas on things they want to reduce
or change to lessen the rate. They would love to have it down to 14 or 15 cents,” Woodruff said. “We have to deal with real numbers.” A proposal approved by commissioners at last week’s meeting could cut county health insurance costs, which could translate into several cents on the tax rate. The board approved asking State Senator Bill Rabon to add Pender County to a bill which would allow county employees to be part of the state health insurance system.
Williams says if this happens, it will save the county money and can help cut the tax increase. “If we can get on the state insurance, that could save us three to four cents on the tax rate,” Williams said. If we can get that, it will be a huge dent in our costs.” Hindsight always clear Williams says the financial problems the county has faced during the past several years under the previous county manager and financial director have put the county in a tight
situation. “I was a commissioner during that two-year period when the finances got out of hand. We may have held off on a thing or two if we had realized how much we were going into the fund balance,” said Williams. “We made decisions based on the information we had. I keep asking myself how far is the fall-out from the situation with the former manager and finance director is going to go. At the end of
Continued on page 3A
Burgaw Walmart opened May 20
Second county Walmart opens in Burgaw By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Burgaw Walmart store manager Natasha Brown (right) thanks Burgaw Area Chamber of Commerce director Emily Baker for her help in opening the store. Standing with Brown and Baker is the store management team. The Burgaw Walmart opened Wednesday morning following a ribbon-cutting at 7:30 a.m. The Burgaw store is the second Walmart to open in Pender County. The Surf City store, a Walmart Neighborhood Market, opened about a year ago.
T h e B u r g aw Wa l m a r t opened its doors to the public Wednesday morning following a ribbon cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m. Located on Hwy. 53 east, the 69,000 square-foot store has been under construction since late fall 2014, with construction slowed and opening delayed by a wet winter and spring. “We want to celebrate with you the fact that Walmart is here and you have allowed us to be here to serve you,” said store manager Natasha Brown. “We are most importantly here to help you save money and live better.” The Burgaw location features a full grocery store and phar macy, along with the usual line of items found in Walmart stores. Brown said the Burgaw Walmart will be open from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. seven days a week, 364 days a year, closing only on Christmas day. Pharmacy hours will be 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. on
Continued on page 2A
Second annual festival planned for June 6-7
Cape Fear BBQ Festival coming to Old River Farms By Lori Kirkpatrick Post & Voice Staff Writer The second annual Cape Fear BBQ Festival has been planned for the weekend of June 6-7 at Old River Farms in Burgaw. The event is set to take place on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The festival will feature
a competitive barbecue cook-off, arts and crafts, and live music. Attendees will be entertained by a variety of games and activities, in addition to an antique truck and tractor show. An assortment of flowers and plants will be available for visitors to purchase, as well. Michael Lanier, of Old River Farms, is looking forward to the event.
“This is the second time that we’ve hosted the barbecue festival. Last year we thought that the Cape Fear Wildlife Foundation did such a good job with it that we wanted them to have it here again. They’re the ones that organize, orchestrate, and set up everything. We’re just here providing the farm, and we’re happy that we can do it for them.”
W.C. Lanier, of the Cape Fear Wildlife Foundation, started coordinating the festival last year. “First we had the Cape Fear Wildlife Expo in March the previous year, and we wanted to do two or three different events,” said Lanier. “The next year we decided to do the barbecue
Continued on page 8A
Memorial Day remembrance Saturday in Hampstead American Legion Post 167 will sponsor a Memorial Day service in Hampstead Saturday at the gazebo in Hampstead Village. Music will begin at 10 a.m. with the program starting at 11 a.m.
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