Hurricane coming? Forecasters are predicting a hurricane will impact the Pender County coast Thursday and Friday. Read about it in today’s edition of the Post & Voice.
Volume 43, No. 40
P
ST &Voice
The Pender-Topsail
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
The Media of
Busy summer sports School may be out for the summer, but high school sports are busy with summer leagues. Read about the action in sports beginning on page 1B.
50 Cents
Record for the People of Pender County
School bond request will total $75 million
School Board reverses decision, Penderlea to stay K-8 By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher The Pender County Board of Education reversed its previous decision Monday and voted to keep Penderlea School a K-8. The resolution included a request to Pender County Commissioners to support a $75 million capital improvement program. The short afternoon meeting was attended by board members Tom Roper and Karen Rouse. Brad George, Kenneth Lanier and Katherine Herring were on a conference call and were able to participate. The resolution passed 4-1, with George voting
no. There was no discussion among board members regarding the resolution and no public input. The resolution was read and quickly passed without comment, to the approval of many Penderlea residents attending the meeting. Monday’s capital improvement resolution includes six projects: •Penderlea School – $21.5 million •Burgaw Middle School – $3 million •West Pender Middle School – $2.5 million •New school in Surf City K-8 – $35 million
•Cape Fear Elementary, Middle – $7 million •Pender High School – $6 million. The resolution asks commissioners to “take all necessary steps, by the issuance of bonds or otherwise, to provide funds for the school system’s capital building needs…” The plan for Penderlea School, while not set, includes a complete renovation of the existing historic building and the addition of one or more new buildings to the campus. School Board member Tom Roper, who championed keeping Penderlea a K-8 school, said a
lot of work went on between the June 26 meeting and Monday’s resolution approval. Roper says he, Lanier, and Pender County Commissioner Jimmy Tate, who represents the Penderlea community on the county board, met to work out the financial details of the Penderlea situation. “We had to find the right financial mix to move this forward,” Roper said. “I think the Penderlea community really did a good job with their presentations dispelling any myths about their ability to offer every child the opportunity to be successful in a
Continued on page 2A
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Pender County Commissioner Jimmy Tate spoke at the June 26 School Board meeting.
Emergency officials eye tropical system
The calm before the storm
Cat one hurricane here by Thursday night By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
Fest and Fireworks. In the Holly Ridge Municipal Park, a DJ will entertain with music starting at 2 p.m. Friday. On hand will be food vendors, arts and crafts vendors, and children’s activities. “At 7 p.m. the Carolina Band will perform,” said Heather Reynolds, the Holly Ridge town clerk. “They are a local band – a local favorite.” The band will play until shortly before 9 p.m. when the fireworks will light up
Pender County emergency officials are closely watching a developing tropical system off the coast of Florida. Weather forecasters project the system will move up the east coast as a category one hurricane Thursday evening into Friday. Pender County Emergency Management Director Tom Collins says the county’s Emergency Operations Center could be activated Thursday, depending on the speed of the advancing storm. “We will have to look at some possible evacuations along the coast. We will discuss that with the beach towns. A lot depends on the storm surge. We won’t know any storm surge projections until probably about 24 hours out,” Collins said. “We know category one storm surge will flood just about the whole island. It’s possible we could see an evacuation, but we would have to concur with the towns. I think we will begin staffing the EOC Thursday. It looks like it’s going to be on us rather quickly, based on the forecast. That could all change.” Collins says county emergency personnel will go into the typical preparations for a hurricane. “We will begin getting shelters ready. With school out, shelters won’t be that big of an issue. The Red Cross helps with that. We will make sure all the generators are ready and have them deployed to the shelters,” said Collins. “With a minimal hurricane, we shouldn’t have too much. A lot depends on the exact tract of the storm.” The emergency manage
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Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Calm seas Saturday morning brought out the long board surfers around the Surf City Ocean Pier. Forecasters are predicting a category one hurricane will move up the coast and be off the Pender County coastline Thursday evening.
July Fourth celebrations planned across the area By Tammy Proctor Post & Voice Staff Writer With fireworks, community festivals, and music, why leave home this weekend? There are plenty of events and activities right here in our backyard this July Fourth. Surf City celebration Thursday The town of Surf City will kick off the holiday weekend on Thursday, July 3, with music by the Mark Roberts Band. The band will perform at the amphitheatre in Soundside
July 4 events could be affected by the tropical weather moving toward Pender County. Watch the Post & Voice Facebook page for updates on the celebrations and events Park at 6 p.m. T h e f i rewo rk s will be launched over the Intracoastal Waterway at dusk, approximately 9 p.m. Presented by the town of Surf City, the annual fireworks display attracts a lot of visitors. Arrive early and plan to enjoy a hotdog from
the concession by Surf City Fire Department and Auxiliary. The concession will sell water, soda, and popcorn. With several local restaurants such as Cheri’s, Max’s, Mainsail, Batson’s Galley, Daddy Mac’s, and Buddy’s Crabhouse and Oyster Bar, within walking distance of Soundside Park,
there’s no reason to go hungry. No coolers are permitted at the park for the Independence Day Celebration in Surf City. Holly Ridge event Friday Up the road off NC Hwy 50 and US Hwy 17, the Town of Holly Ridge will celebrate the Fourth of July with Liberty
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