POST Voice The Pender-Topsail
Busy Memorial Day Memorial Day at the Pender County beaches saw big crowds and heavy traffic. Read about it on page 2A.
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East regional series Topsail High’s baseball team begins a best-ofthree series in the eastern regionals this week. Read about it in sports on page 1B.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Volume 43, No. 35
The Media of
Record for the People of Pender County
50 Cents
Last day with Pender County will be June 6
Pender County manager resigns; takes job in the mountains By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Editor After just over two years on the job, Pender County Manager Dr. Mickey Duvall is heading back to the mountains. In a letter dated May 21, Duvall announced his resignation – his final day with Pender County government will be June 6. Duvall succeeded retiring Rick Benton as manager in February 2012. Duvall will be the new executive director for Region D, High Country Council of Goverments in Boone. After working through three budget cycles, Duvall says the biggest challenge he faced in the manager’s office was growth in the county. “Since I’ve been here the new water plant
has come online, we started construction on a wastewater treatment plant, worked to get wastewater service out on Hwy. 17 in Hampstead, and started to improve our overall infrastructure and deal with the growth. And we have done it with no tax increases,” Duvall said. “We have pulled the rabbit out of the hat for three budget cycles with no tax increase.” Duvall points to the recruitment of R.C. Creations to the Pender Commerce Park as one of his major accomplishments as county manager. “It’s going to bring around 300 jobs to the county when it’s finished,” he said. Pender County Commission Chairman David Williams says Duvall has grown as a manager during his time here. “When he came in, he had never been a
School, county officials wrestle with budget By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher With adoption of the county budget just under a month away, Pender County school officials are working with commissioners to hammer out the details of the school’s portion of the county budget. School officials met with commissioners May 19 to present budget requests and make a pitch for more money. School board members highlighted the areas where additional funding was needed and had a group of teachers on hand to talk about specific needs. In the budget request is an increase in the teachers supplement as well as a $500 stipend for teacher assistants and directors. Two assistant principals, two school nurse positions, two maintenance positions, and a new activity bus are also in the request. School Board member Tom Roper says they are also asking for several mobile classrooms for schools in the Topsail area to help with overcrowding.
manager. It doesn’t matter how you prepare, until you are in the hot seat you don’t know what it is like,” Williams said. “He’s had some tough situations keeping up with our board. Over time he met people and forged relationships and got better every day. He could have stayed if he wanted to and we are going to miss him.” Williams says the board will likely appoint Assistant County Manager Butch Watson as interim manager at the June 2 board meeting and begin work on finding Duvall’s replacement. Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Duvall will become the executive director of the Region D High County Council of Govenments in Boone.
Remembering those who gave all
The requests total about $2 million. Roper says the discussions with county commissioners went well. “During the meeting, County Manager Dr. Mickey Duvall felt the county could pay for a nurse, one maintenance person, one activity bus, and two mobile units, but no additional teacher supplements,” Roper said. “They were concerned that our fund balance was too high. Our general rule is 20 percent of our budget.” The School Board met May 24 in a special budget meeting and decided to have Superintendent Dr. Terri Cobb, Finance Director Betsy Chestnut, and Chair man Karen Rouse to continue to meet with representatives of the county commissioners to work on budget issues. “Those are our true needs. We’ve had a stagnant budget for the past few years. We appreciate the commissioners holding the line during the tight times. But we are seeing tremendous growth in our area,” Roper said. Staff photos by Andy Pettigrew
The color guard from American Legion Post 167 opens the Memorial Day service in Hampstead Saturday. Surf City Mayor Zander Guy (right) was speaker at the annual service. See more photos of the event on Facebook.
Arts Council asks for old Burgaw EMS building Group wants vacant building for arts, community theater center By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
Photo contributed
A performance of Moores Creek Anthology will be Friday at 8 p.m. on the Courthouse Square in Burgaw. The original drama is performed by Pender High School students.
Officials in the town of Burgaw have tried to decide what to do with the old EMS building beside the town hall. Rochelle Whiteside has the answer – give it to the Pender County Arts Council. The Pender High School drama teacher asked the Burgaw Board of Commissioners at their May 13 meeting to give the building to the Arts Council to be used as an arts center and staging area for drama productions. “We have a lot of talented, creative people in this county and the arts help build community – building friendships that become the foundation for a healthier, happier, safer community. I’ve looked at that old EMS building and I know it’s an
eyesore in some people’s eyes. I know you have moved toward selling it and having it torn down. I think the local Arts Council can put it to use,” Whiteside said. She said the building could be used as a base for community theatre, art classes, a community band and chorus, art camps in the summer and much more. “The Arts Council gets calls almost daily from people who want arts classes, summer art camps, community theater – and we have no place,” said Whiteside. “For the past 12 years we have put at least one community theater event on or in the courthouse. And every time we have done it we have to move around and beg someone to use a house or garage or backyard to build sets. We have no place to rehearse. The EMS building is a perfect scene shop, rehearsal area. We could
build scenery there, rehearse with it, and move it across the street. Please put a pause on thinking of doing away with the building and think of it as a place to enrich the lives of people.” Burgaw attorney Harold Pollock asked the board to consider using the building for an arts center. “If we are all continually trying to improve our community, and say we are special, this is another way we can do it,” Pollock said. “Not every kid can hit a ball. Not every kid make a dunk. This gives an opportunity for these kids to do something like this.” The board agreed to consider using the building as an arts center, with the town paying the insurance and utility bills. The council will discuss the issue again at the June board meeting.
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