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POST Voice The Pender-Topsail
Christmas is growing closer, but there are still holiday events on the schedule in Pender County. Read more about whats happening on pages 13A and 3B.
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Christmas break Pender County sports teams will participate in several holiday tournaments during the Christmas holiday break. Read about it in sports beginning on page 8A.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Volume 45, No. 11
Brown back as BOC chairman
50 Cents
The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
Big Christmas parade in Burgaw
DSS director will retire in January
By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
George Brown moved into the chairman’s chair on the Pender County Board of Commissioners Monday. Commissioners voted to appoint Brown chairman and Fred McCoy as vice chairman. David Williams announced earlier he would not serve another term as board chairman. Williams made the motion to elect Brown as chairman. Brown served previously as board chairman for three years prior to Williams becoming chair. Williams commented on his tenure as chairman as he passed the gavel to Brown. “I’m proud of what we have done and where we are going and I believe we are heading in the right direction. It has been an honor to sit in the chair,” Williams said. “Who knows. Maybe I’ll sit in it again, but not in the foreseeable future for work and family reasons.” Brown thanked the board for their confidence. “It’s either that or someone slipped me the short straw,” Brown quipped. “I will do my best.
Pender County Department of Social Services director Dr. Reta Shiver will retire at the end of January. In a letter dated Dec. 9 to Pender County Commission Chairman David Williams, Shiver, announced her retirement. Shiver said “After having served compassionately, diligently, faithfully and professionally, with excellence and profound dedication, I will retire in good standing from the position of Director of Social Services for Pender County effective January 31, 2016. “I would like to thank the people of Pender County for allowing me to faithfully serve them throughout my 33-year tenure. I would also like to thank DSS staff, former and current, for its outstanding performance throughout the period of my service. Finally, I would like to thank the numerous state officials and county officials for the esprit de corps shown to Pender County Department of Social Services throughout the duration of my time as DSS Director for Pender County.”
Money questions cleared up in Topsail Beach By Barbara Hazle Contributing Writer An apparent problem with town money in Topsail Beach was explained by town officials at the Dec. 9 commissioners meeting. Topsail Beach was notified in November town’s fund balance appeared to face a substantial financial shortfall. “The money is there, we have plenty of money. There’s no problem with our budget, the money is not a problem,” said Mayor Howard Braxton. “There was a process we had to go through before we could respond to Raleigh. We have worked diligently to show that this was not a real problem. We have just gone through a clean audit, and no money is misplaced anywhere.” Wade Greene of Whiteville perfor med the audit and presented the results to the board. “I want to understand how we got in this position, that we required a letter from the state. I want to see our books
Continued on page 10A
Staff photos by Andy Pettigrew
Thousands turned out on a balmy night for the annual Burgaw Christmas Parade Saturday. See more photos of the event on Page 4B and on Facebook.
Hampstead Women’s Club Building
Breakfast with Santa Dec. 19 in Hampstead By Tammy Proctor Pender County Tourism Director Special to the Post & Voice Santa Claus is coming to Hampstead for breakfast. He will visit with good little boys and girls Dec, 19, 9-11 a.m. at the Hampstead Women’s Club building, 14435 Hwy. 17. Breakfast with Santa is sponsored by the Hampstead Women’s Club and the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce. This is the third year the two local non-profit organizations have partnered together on this project. The two groups will divide the proceeds and use them to fund scholarships for local students. “Santa is coming to town,” said Patricia Truscello, president of the Hampstead Women’s Club. “We’re going to feed him pancakes and sausage.” However, Truscello said Santa doesn’t
want to dine alone. The public is invited to join Santa and spend some precious time with him before Christmas morning. “Each child will have an opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what they want for Christmas,” said Chuck
Strickland, the executive director of the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce. “We encourage parents to bring their cameras and take photos.” Tickets are on sale now. Tickets are $5 each. Children under the age of 2 are admitted free with a parent’s ticket. Tickets are available from the Hampstead Thrift Store, 14435 US Hwy. 17, or from the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce at 13775 Hwy 50 in Surf City. “We are members of the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce,” said Truscello. “We are pleased to partner with the chamber in an event that will bring holiday cheer to families. The proceeds will benefit children of the community through scholarships.” For more information call the Hampstead Women’s Club at 910-270-9510 or the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce at 910-329-4446.
Pender County man convicted of sex crimes, porn From Staff Reports Roy Lee Stubbs, 48 of Pender County, was found guilty by a Pender County jury Dec. 9 of three counts of sex offense with a child, one count of second degree sexual exploitation of a minor, and two counts of felony secret peeping. The trial involved testimony from two of Stubbs’ victims whose abuse took place over a number of years.
Stubbs was sentenced by Judge Jay Hockenbury to a total of 50-65 years in the Department of Adult Correction. Stubbs will also be subject to satellite-based monitoring and have to register as a sex offender. The jury found that Stubbs sexually molested the female victim over the course of a three and a half year period from 2010-2013 when the she
was 9-12 years old. The other victim, now an adult, was able to provide testimony regarding her abuse by Stubbs over a decade ago. Assistant District Attorney Jason Smith credits the hard work of Detective John Leatherwood of the Pender County Sheriff ’s Office and the actions of two brave victims for
Continued on page 2A
Roy Lee Stubbs
Election update From Staff Reports Pender County Board of Education member Brad George has filed for reelection to the board. George currently holds the District 5 seat, one of the two seats on the board that will be on the ballot March 15. Karen Rouse, who holds the District 3 seat, has announced she will not seek reelection. Don Hall has filed for that seat. In the November county commissioners race, two candidates have filed for the District 4 seat. Democrat Demetrice Keith has filed for reelection. Burgaw attorney Jacqueline Newton has also filed for the seat as a Republican. Democrat Sheree Shepard has filed for the District 5 seat, currently held by Republican Fred McCoy. Pender County Register of Deeds Sharon Willoughby(R) has filed for relection Filing for the 2016 elections will remain open through Dec. 21. The above information was as of Dec. 11.
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