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Gas leak closes streets in downtown Burgaw Pender County jail evacuated By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher The smell of natural gas blew through downtown Burgaw Jan. 23 after a utility crew working along Wilmington Street downtown hit a natural gas line, prompting an evacuation of the area. The evacuation included inmates in the Pender County Jail. Utility crews working at the intersection of Wilmington and Walker Streets hit the line about 1:30 p.m., causing an evacuation of the nearby
jail. Businesses and residents in the area were also advised to evacuate. A one-block radius around the area was closed to traffic. Capt. James Rowell of the Pender County Sheriff ’s Office said inmates in the jail were transported to an undisclosed jail facility for housing without incident. Rowell says the inmates were returned to the jail Jan. 24. Burgaw officials say the gas line was more than 15 feet deep causing a delay in shutting off the gas. Piedmont Natural Gas crews were able to
Flu yet to take hold in Pender While influenza is reported widespread in 46 states, including North Carolina, Pender County has yet to see an outbreak of the seasonal virus. “At this point, it is not very bad,� said Pender County Health and Human Services Director Carolyn Moser. “We haven’t had an outbreak in the schools, so right now, we seem to be OK.� Moser warned that the flu season still has several months to go in our area, with February often being a peak of the local season. “It is still a little early – often the flu will peak sometime in February. So there is still time to be vaccinated if you have not had a shot,� Moser said. The flu vaccine usually takes about two weeks to reach its full effectiveness
Breaking ground at Penderlea
after receiving the medication. National health officials say the vaccine is never perfect as flu strains mutate and change each year. Experts are seeing more influenza B/Victoria cases than a typical year. This is a strain that is not comprehensively covered by this year’s vaccine. Each year, the vaccine is designed with specific flu strains in mind, based on projections of which particular flu will be circulating this season. Even if this year’s vaccine does not specifically hit a particular flu strain, it is still helpful. “I don’t know if the vaccine is any better than it was last year. But that’s not to discourage anyone from getting a flu shot,� said Moser. “The vaccine will reduce the severity of
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Staff Photo by Andy Pettigrew
Pender Sheriff’s deputy blocks a section of Wilmington Street north of the Courthouse Jan. 23
By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
shut off the line about 6 p.m. Crews worked all night and into the next day replacing the damaged line. Local law enforcement and emergency management responded to the incident, including the Burgaw Fire Department, Burgaw Police, and Public Works. The Pender Sheriff ’s Department, N.C. Highway Patrol, and Pender County Emergency Management also responded to the scene. The repair on the line was complete and streets were reopened by 6 p.m. Jan. 24.
Staff Photo by Andy Pettigrew
Students at the Penderlea School take a turn with the silver shovels during the groundbreaking for the new athletic ďŹ elds Jan. 23. Surf City Middle School will break ground on its new athletic ďŹ elds Jan. 30. See more photos of the event on Facebook and Instagram.
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Second Amendment petition to be presented at Feb. 18 BOC meeting SALES • SERVICE • PARTS • DELIVERY By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher Supporters of the Second Amendment will appear before the Pender County Commissioners Feb. 18 to present a petition asking for the board to consider a measure supporting the Second Amendment. The BOC meeting will be held at the Hampstead
Government Annex beginning at 4 p.m. It is not likely any gun measure will be on the agenda for consideration, but discussion will take place during the public comment section of the meeting. Commissioners tabled a resolution April 1, 2019 to declare Pender County a gun sanctuary
county after residents opposed to the measure packed the BOC meeting room in Burgaw. The resolution appeared to prompt reservations among board members who objected to some of the wording in the resolution, specifically the term “gun sanctuary.� The proposed resolution was modeled after a measure passed in Cherokee County North Caro-
Financing Availablewas to get as many signatures as
lina. Cameron Purser, owner of Flytrap Firearms Training, is circulating a petition in support of a Second Amendment resolution. “I know there are far more people in Pender County that are for a Second Amendment resolution than against it and didn’t know about the first meeting (April 1),� said Purser. “My plan
possible and come to the meeting. We didn’t get the chance to mobilize and show our support at the first meeting. This should at least be brought up, discussed, and voted on.� Information on the petition can be found on the Flytrap Firearms Training Facebook page, and at www.ipetitions.com.
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