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Canetuck community The old Rosenwald School in Canetuck is the home to the Canetuck Community Center and volunteers working in the community. Read more on page 1B.
Volume 45, No. 21
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POST Voice The Pender-Topsail
&
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Trask in playoffs The Trask Titan cagers are the third seed in the state east regional basketball playoffs. The Titans will be at home this week. Read more in sports on page 8A.
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The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
Sheriff asks for upgrades in courthouse security By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher Pender County Sherif f Carson Smith told Commissioners at the board’s Feb. 15 meeting it was time to do something about the security situation at the Pender County Courthouse. “I think because of the lack of problems we have had it doesn’t seem to be a huge issue, but I think it is time to take care of this,” Smith said. “The fact that we have two courtrooms makes it more of a challenge.” With four full-time deputies assigned to the courthouse, Smith said he didn’t have the personnel to secure the courthouse. Smith is asking
Commissioners for seven new deputies to work at the courthouse to provide screening and security. The cost would be $326,000 each year. Start-up costs including four additional vehicles and equipment for the deputies would total $163,000. Another $15,000 would be needed for metal detectors and door alarms on the courthouses. “With four deputies at the main courthouse, I’m confident we could lock it down, and screen everyone that comes in,” said Smith. Three deputies would be assigned to the courthouse annex. Smith said there has been a 30 percent increase in the number of courts held over
the past two years. With the population growing 28 percent in the county during that period, the courts can expect the number of cases to increase as well. “As the population grows, we have more prisoners, more charges, and more courts,” Smith said. “With the growth, we have to do more just to maintain the level of service we have. I’ve tried to be a frugal as possible with this, but I wanted to give you what I think will work.” Pender County Clerk of Court Robert Kilroy outlined the busy court schedule for County Commissioners. “We have a lot of regulars – folks that are always having problems with law
enforcement,” Kilroy said. “We had a fellow show up last month with a big briefcase. Of course, the bailiffs checked it out and it was just full of papers. But you never know what is inside something like that. We all know what is going to happen. It’s just a matter of when. There is an acute need to improve the security – to protect the folks that work in the courthouse, and the public in general. It all comes down to money. We need to find the money to secure the courthouse.” Commissioner David Williams said the board has known this was needed, but Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew with other needs in the budget Pender County Sheriff Carson Smith says increased se-
Continued on page 2A
curity is needed in the county courthouse to protect both workers and citizens.
Topsail Board looks at longrange inlet maintenance
A careful cook
By Barbara Hazle Contributing Writer Mr. Jerry Patton, the new chairperson of the Topsail Beach BIS (Beach Inlet Sound) Committee discussed the direction of the BIS at the recent January Topsail Beach Board of Commissioners meeting. The BIS, in conjunction with TI Coastal Services, are looking at course of action that would continually update survey information for the town to use in case of any emergency. “We really feel that it is time to take the next step,” said Mr. Patton. “We need to determine what the next project will look
like in a proactive fashion. We have options; a repeat of what we just did opening up the inlet, or a 50-year approach where we target areas where we could take the sand from and determine the permitting that is going to be required. It will be much more involved than what we just did, we would be cutting an inlet that is 350-400 feet wide. We are advocating preplanning, because we never know when we will need to do a project. We might have a storm, we might get more FEMA money or the town may have more money. Doing research upfront
Continued on page 10A
Fugitive sought by county
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Charlie Krynicki keeps a close watch on the pancakes cooking on the griddle Saturday morning at the annual N.C. Blueberry Festival pancake breakfast. See more photos of the event on page 4B and on Facebook.
Work continues on Holly Shelter shooting range From Staff Reports The shooting and archery range in the Holly Shelter Gamelands is under construction, according to N.C. Wildlife officials. The range includes an access road, rifle range,
pistol range and the associated shelters. Wildlife officials are in the process of submitting a plan for a 20-station third archery range at the site. State officials are looking for a partnership with Pender County to help operate the range. Commissioners have discussed the possibility of a partnership at
Continued on page 10A
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 forum will be for local candidates on the ballot for the state primary election Mar. 15.
The forum will feature 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. The forum will be held at the Burgaw Depot at 7 p.m.
From Staff Reports The Pender County Sheriff ’s Office is looking for Jorge Garcia-Cardena, a 32-yearold self-employed sheetrock installer who was a resident of Pender County. GarciaCardena’s whereabouts are currently unknown. Arrest warrants for GarciaCardena are on file and he has been charged with two counts of rape of a child-adult offender, two counts of sex offense with a child-adult offender and two counts of indecent liberties with a child. An investigation be gan Feb, 10 when the victim, who is now 13 years old, filed a report with Pender County Department of Social Services and the Pender County Sheriff ’s Office. Other charges may be pending and the investigation is still open. Garcia-Cardena has been
Jorge Garcia-Cardena working as a sheetrock installer in the Pender, New Hanover, and Brunswick County prior to the start of the investigation. He was known to have been driving a dark blue Ford Explorer with an unknown North Carolina registration tag. It is possible that he is attempting a return to Mexico. Anyone with information on Garcia-Cardena is asked requested to notify the Pender County Sheriff ’s Office.
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