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Topsail Montessori
Seeking a different learning environment – that is the goal of the Topsail Montessori School in Hampstead. The private school opened last summer. Read more on page 1B.
Volume 45, No. 20
513 Roland Ave Surf City, NC (910) 328-2105 www.shopthebee.com
The Pender-Topsail
&
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Titans take title The regular season is over and the Trask Titans have secured the conference championship going into this week’s conference tournament. Read more in sports on page 8A.
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The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
Topsail Beach considers conduct code for officials
Cupids on the loose
By Barbara Hazle Contributing Writer Topsail Beach Board of Commissioners are weighing the adoption of a formal code of conduct for the mayor and all Board members. The code of conduct will join the Code of Ethics adopted in 2012. A draft of the code, available on the Town of Topsail Beach website (www. topsailbeach.org) states that “respect” is the constant and consistent theme of the code. The code directs the mayor and commissioners on how to conduct themselves at public meetings, moving throughout the public in general, and in accordance with one another and the town staff. According to the draft, during public meetings the Board and mayor are to “practice civility and decorum in discussions and debate” and spells out the need for honoring the role of mayor in maintaining order. Special considerations regarding digital and print media include the position that the mayor will be the official spokesperson for the town, followed by the town manager. The draft also states that board members should only comment on behalf of the town “when there is consistency and unity among board members on the topic in question” and that “individual Board members should be clear about whether their comments represent an official town position or a
personal viewpoint.” The code also cautions that written notes, emails and voice mails are “insecure” and that private conversations have a public presence. The draft code reads in part that “The litmus test should be: would you feel comfortable if this voicemail/fax/email message appeared in the newspaper verbatim? How would that reflect on the Town?” The draft code also outlines how continued inappropriate behavior by appointed committee or board members could lead to removal and town board members “who intentionally and repeatedly do not follow proper conduct may be reprimanded or formally censured by the Board.” “The people need to have a say so on this too,” said Mayor Howard Braxton. “We need to go through this at the retreat and make sure it is what we want, that everyone agrees and then go from there.” Public comments are welcome on the proposed code of conduct at a public hearing scheduled for Mar. 9 during the regularly scheduled monthly Topsail Beach Board of Commissioners meeting.
Candidates forum Mar.3 From Staff Reports The Pender-Topsail Post & Voice along with the Burgaw Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a candidates forum Mar. 3 at the Depot in Burgaw. The primary election in North Carolina is Mar. 15. The forum will feature pri-
mary election candidates for the Pender County Board of Commissioners and the Pender County Board of Education Other candidates on the Mar. 15 primary ballot are welcome to attend and will be given time to speak.
Acme Smoked Fish, others hiring in Pender County
with several industries seeking new employees. “We have several companies that are needing workers – most of the jobs are in manufacturing and production. This is a good situation for Pender County,” said Rosemary Pittman of the Pender County office of the state office of Workforce Solutions. Acme Smoked Fish, located in Pender Commerce Park, is expanding its workforce and seeking new workers. “They are looking for workers and will be at the N.C. Blueberry Festival Pancake Breakfast Feb. 20 to take ap-
Commissioner says Acme has exceeded expectations By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher The job situation continues to improve in Pender County,
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Pender High drama students presented a special Valentine’s Day theater last week in Burgaw at ArtBeat for two nights. Drama teacher Rochelle Whiteside (center) poses with the cupids backstage.
240th anniversary of historic Revolutionary War battle
Moores Creek battle commemoration Feb. 27-28 By Ashley Jacobs Post & Voice Staff Writer It’s not often you can say a tradition has held strong for centuries. When you can make a statement like that, you celebrate. Moores Creek National Battlefield will host the 240th Anniversary Celebration of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge Feb. 27-28. The battle was the first Patriot victory of the American Revolution, which helped stall the British invasion of the south for most of the Revolutionary War and ended Royal authority in North Carolina forever. That is a victory worth celebrating over and over again.
plications,” Pittman said. “They will have representatives there from 8-11 a.m. They are hoping there will be some
But this year, the victory will taste a little sweeter because 2016 also marks the 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service. “It is important for people to participate in these events and view these demonstrations as they are living history, our ticket to the past,” Chief Interpretation and Education Matthew Woods said. “When a visitor interacts with a demonstrator, they are essentially interacting with history. The living historians who portray this history invest their time and energy to ensure that their crafts demonstrate actual history to the best of their abil-
Continued on page 2A
people there looking for work or might know someone who is looking for a job. Job seekers will be able to apply at the
breakfast.” Pittman says interested individuals may also apply at the local employment office at 904 S. Walker St. in Burgaw. There are several departments at Acme that are filling positions with a total of about 25 jobs to be filled. “The pay is very competitive with full benefits,” said Pittman. Another Pender County company has job openings and is seeking new employees. Pittman says the jobs are in machine operation and the company is expanding production with about 25 job open-
ings. Some of the jobs are being filled through a temporary job agency, with others hired directly by the company. “Workers will be operating various machines in a manufacturing setting,” Pittman said. “It depends if applicants have enough experience to be hired directly by the company or go through the temporary agency as to the level of benefits available.” With the unemployment rate continuing to fall in Pender County, Pittman is optimistic about the job situ-
Continued on page 13A
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