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Poplar Grove on TV
POST Voice The Pender-Topsail
A local wedding at Poplar Grove Plantation will be featured on television on TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta in February. Read about the show and more on page 1B.
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Trask beats Pender The first game of one of the biggest rivalries in the county has Trask up one game over Pender. The teams will meet again. Read about county hardwood action on page 8A.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Volume 45, No. 16
Too early to tell extent of damage
Blueberry blooms in January
Early blooms, freeze will effect blueberry crop By Jefferson Weaver Contributing Writer Early blueberry varieties are suffering from not enough cold—but agriculture specialists are concerned that could change. “It’s just too early to tell,” said Mark Seitz of the Cooperative Extension Service. Early blooming varieties of blueberries have blossomed too early, Seitz explained. “Those blooms will freeze and result in yield loss,” he said. “Ten percent? Twenty? Fifty? It’s just too early to say.” Most varieties of blueberries require 600-800 “chill hours” for blossoms to set and mature. “We are way behind in that regard,” he said. “We only have around six weeks left to accumulate chill hours.” Timing is key, he said. At the wrong time of the year, temperatures over 65 degree negate the positive effects of temperatures under 45. Producers who watch weather trends have another concern that may still be on the horizon, Seitz said.
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Unseasonably warm weather during December and early January has brought blueberries to bloom in some areas. Below freezing temperatures this week will kill the blossoms, damaging this season’s crop. Read what agricultural officials are saying about the situation on page 1A.
Two injured in Maple Hill shooting Jan. 15 By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher Two men were injured Friday at a shooting in the parking lot of Lanier’s Grocery in Maple Hill. According to the Pender County Sheriff ’s Department, deputies were called at 11:58 a.m. to the store with a report
Topsail Beach welcomes new town manager By Barbara Hazle Contributing Writer Topsail Beach Commission-
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of shots fired. The assailant reportedly followed the victims to Lanier’s, got out of his car, and fired shots into the other car. The shooter fled the scene. Store owner Kenneth Lanier, who was inside the store at the time of the shooting, said he wasn’t aware of anything until he heard the gunfire.
ers welcomed Mike Rose as the Topsail Beach Town Manager officially at the January 13, 2016 town meeting. John Goller, a resident of Topsail Beach spoke to the new manager during public remarks. “You are looking at the core group,” John said to laughter from the audience. “We are the ones you will see here continuously, we are the citizens who stand up to stay involved and we look forward to a long and productive time with you. Welcome.” Mayor Braxton jokingly asked Mr. Goller to wait an-
Burgaw mayor calls for town tax cut
Mulligan says taxpayers need a break By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
“We didn’t know until we heard a boom and thought it was a car backfiring, and then it was rapid after that,” Lanier said. “They had chased each other, pulled into the parking lot and started shooting. It was over by the time we figured out what was happening. That’s how fast it happened.” The investigation is ongoing.
other week to visit the new manager, and told the audience that he thought the residents would be pleased with the appointment of Rose. “He is very conscientious and familiar with the people and the issues already. I think today he hung some pictures in his office which is a good sign, so I think that means he is ready to stay.” said Braxton. Mr. Rose said he was excited to be here. “Anytime you make a life changing move like we have, it can be difficult, but the board, staff and citizens have
The warmest winter on record in the area was 2006-2007, he said. “Then on Easter, in April 2007, we had one of the worst freezes on record with temperatures in the low to mid teens in this area and heavy freezes into South Florida. Are we headed for another event like that? It’s too soon to know, but it could be a problem.” The good news is, farmers learned from the freeze of ’07, Seitz said. “If something similar to 2007 were to happen,” he said, “blueberry and strawberry growers are generally set for frost protection. In 2007 the freeze event lasted five days and growers ran out of irrigation water to continue pumping for frost protection. “After that freeze growers added pond water storage to endure a long, late frost event like that one so if it happens crop losses should be minimal.” All farmers can do is monitor the weather, watch and be prepared, Seitz said. For more information on protecting blueberry crops, contact the Cooperative Extension Service at 259.1235.
treated me so well that I know I have made the absolute right choice. My pledge to you is that I will do everything I can to do as good as job as possible for the citizens,” said Rose. A reception is planned at the town hall for Jan. 28 at 5 p.m. for the residents to meet Rose. Chief Sam Gervase was presented with the AAA 2015 North Carolina Traffic Safe Communities awarded to Topsail Beach in the category of populations of 10,000 residents or less.
Continued on page 13A
Burgaw Mayor Eugene Mulligan asked the town’s Board of Commissioners to consider a tax cut for residents. Mulligan brought up the idea at the board’s January meeting last week. “We have been able to gather more money than necessary and we have built up our reserve fund to a very healthy state of 80 percent, which is more than we need,” Mulligan said. “Because our citizens have had to endure a very large county tax increase, we are trying to help them out.” Mulligan is refering to the recent Pender County tax increase of more than 30 percent. State law requires the town to hold eight percent of the yearly budget in reserve. The town board voted to raise that to 25 percent. Mulligan says that figure has grown to 80 percent and it’s time to look at cutting the tax rate.
Eugene Mulligan Mulligan cites recent growth of the tax base for the increased revenue. The Walmart, Bojangles, and the soon to open Taco Bell are some of the growth that has contributed to the larger tax base. The tax cut idea will now be considered by the town’s Policy and Finance Board will consider the idea and look at the tax rate to determine how much could be cut. “I think the taxpayers would be well pleased to have it in their bank account than the town’s account,” Mulligan said.
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