Post & Voice 8.4.16

Page 1

Act like a Lady...

Dress like a Boss! The Boss is Away, but her Favorite Dresses

are BOGO 25%!

8211 W Market St #BB Wilmington, NC (910) 319-7693

The Adopt-A-Cop program, which began in central North Carolina, is coming to southeaster N.C. and Pender County. Read more about it on page 1B.

BOC talks Hampstead median, DOT projects

POST Voice Deal Expires 8/8/16

The Pender-Topsail

Supporting police

Volume 45, No. 44

513 Roland Ave Surf City, NC (910) 328-2105 www.shopthebee.com

&

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Ready for football? Pender County football teams hit the practice field Monday – and the annual Football Jamboree is Aug. 11 at Pender High. Football is here. Read more in sports on page 8A.

50 Cents

The Media of Record for the People of Pender County

Black River claims Rocky Point man

Scenes of Pender County

From Staff Reports A 31-year-old Rocky Point man drowned in the Black River Saturday. At 3:43 a.m July 30, a 911 call was received by the Pender County Sheriff ’s Office reporting a missing swimmer in the 2400 block of Point Caswell Road in Atkinson. Units from Atkinson Fire Department, Pender EMS and Fire and the Pender County Sheriff ’s Office were dispatched. Additional resources including N.C. Wildlife and New Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office Marine and Dive Teams were called in to assist with the search. Crews searched throughout the day Saturday. At approximately 5:30 p.m. Saturday, the body of James Thomas Croom, age 31 of Rocky Point was located in the water approximately 100 yards from his last known location. Croom and a friend had gone swimming in Black River around 2 a.m. before Croom went missing. An autopsy has been scheduled.

By Barbara Hazle Post & Voice Staff Writer The Pender County Board of Commissioners informed the public of many NC DOT projects at the recent August 1 board meeting. C o m m i s s i o n e r D av i d Pie pmeyer discussed a recent meeting he had with Representative Chris Millis and the NC DOT regarding the Hampstead Highway 17 median project. He explained that most of the comments from the public were focusing on why the median project would be started before the Hampstead Bypass project. “There are a few reasons for this,” said Piepmeyer. “Right now this is funded at $30 million dollars, and if they wait the funding goes away. Also the sequence wouldn’t benefit either project at this point. The two projects need to mesh, we want to see minimal reworking and incorporate the exchanges to Highway 17 in the bypass project. Once the design stage of the project is 25 percent complete which should be by the end of 2016, the NC DOT will review with us. After 25 percent completion it is very difficult to make any changes.” Piepmeyer also said that citizen concerns did initiate changes to the design already. “Specifically the interchange at Highway 210 and Highway 17 needs to have an eight way light. Initially the design did not allow for the traffic exiting the Post Office or Food Lion to go straight across the intersection as it can now. With much of our growth coming from the Hwy 210 corridor and the connection of Factory Road to Dan Owen Drive the public needs to be able to access Hwy 210 and turn left on to Highway 17. Also the plan was to eliminate the light at Hoover Road but that would limit access to South Topsail Elementary School so changes are being made there. This project will take three years with most of the work being done at night. “Piepmeyer said. “I want the Hampstead public to know that their concerns have been heard and considered, and even though construction will not begin until 2020 the considerations of the public has already been a factor in the design process.”

Continued on page 14A

Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew

This quiet moment at Lanes Ferry on the Northeast Cape Fear River was photographed several years ago.

Teen suicide prevention program at Pender High Cb`m By Lori Kirkpatrick Post & Voice Staff Writer A presentation that will address teen suicide prevention and crisis intervention will be offered to the public at Pender High School Aug. 8 from 6 until 8 p.m. Dr. Greg Hudnell, from the Provo, Utah school district, will be speaking about a suicide prevention program that he has developed. In conjunction with Dr. Hudnell’s presentation, a committee has been formed to put together a similar program aimed at suicide

DYf Acbh\ $ :]bUbW]b[

Pender sheriff’s deputy fired, charged with sex crimes From Staff Reports A Pender County sheriff ’s deputy has been fired and arrested on multiple charges. Deputy Melvin Acevedo was arrested July 26 by State Bureau of Investigation agents and charged with assault on a female, sexual battery, and willfully failing to discharge

prevention that will be piloted at Pender High School. The longer-term goal will be to implement a program that will expand to all of the Pender County Schools. Admission to the presentation will be free. The committee consists of several public health entities that will be supporting the program and helping to guide it, including: Pender Memorial Hospital, Pender EMS and Fire, Pender County Health Department, Coastal Horizons and Pender Alliance for Teen Health (PATH). In con-

his duties. On Saturday morning, July 23, at approximately 1 a.m., Pender County Sheriff ’s Office supervisors received a complaint that a deputy had acted inappropriately toward a female while answering a call for service late on the night of July 22. The complaint immediately turned into an internal investigation where it was determined that Acevedo violated Pender County Sheriff ’s Office Policies 1.01 (General Conduct), 1.02 (Conduct Towards the Public), and had apparently violated state law. As a result of that internal

Find us on DYf Acbh\ Facebook $ :]bUbW]b[

www.facebook.com/PostVoice

junction with this two-hour presentation, Dr. Hudnell will give a second class for professionals who will be involved more directly and deeply in the program that will be developed in Pender County Schools. The implementers in the schools will have a more intensive five-hour session. Subsequently, key teachers and other professionals will be trained and then pass along their training to other teachers. Pender County resident Ross Harrell is a committee member. Like many others

who have lost loved ones to suicide, he has been touched personally by the recent loss of his nephew. “We would like to be sure that everyone is invited to the presentation Aug. 8 because suicide affects us all. We want to pilot the program specifically at Pender High School. There will be principals and educators from other schools in Pender County, but the program we want to set up first will be at Pender High School. We want to do that

community $67 garden is planned

-BO *LKQE ǝ #FK>K@FKD

By Barbara Hazle Post & Voice Staff Writer

Continued on page 14A a.m. Because of the apparent violation of law, Pender County Sheriff Carson Smith and District Attorney Ben David jointly requested the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) handle the criminal investigation. The SBI immediately began their investigation July 23. Their completed report was presented to the district attorney. Acevedo has been placed on a $5,000 unsecured bond. Acevedo was hired by the Pender County Sheriff ’s Office in September of 2015. He served as a patrol deputy until his termination.

Hampstead will have a community garden in the near future. Ms. Patricia Herrin, a resident of Hampstead, went before the Pender County Board of Commissioners on Monday to request approval of agreement for the establishment of a community garden at the Hampstead Branch Library at 75 Library Drive in Hampstead. The garden would be located northwest of the building, on the opposite side of where the Pender County Master Gardeners have planted. Kyle Breuer, Director of Planning and Community Development stated that the plan took into consideration where the septic system was located, availability of water to the garden, and parking. Breuer also explained that the county would be indemnified and each participant would sign an agreement with the garden manager outlining expectations and waiving any liability attributed to the

RV RKAIB 0>SB > RKAIB

,KIV

Cb`m

,KIV Hampstead

Program scheduled for Aug. 8; public invited

$67

-BO *LKQE ǝ #FK>K@FKD

YT42 DXLS 350 BT 223L Trimmer

Melvin Acevedo

investigation, Acevedo was fired by the Sheriff ’s Office July 23 at approximately 10

Continued on page 15A

BuyRegularly A Bundle, $3179.85 Save A Bundle

YT42 DXLS 350 BT 223L Trimmer Bundle and SAVE $254.39 Regularly $3179.85, Bundle and SAVE $254.39 Spring Sales Price $2925.46. 0% FINANCING 48 Mo. W.A.C.

Spring Sales Price $2925.46 WHITE TRACTOR INC. 0% FINANCING 48 Mo.CO. W.A.C. whitetractorcompany.com (WY "Y 0ASS 3 "URGAW s

© 201* Husqvarna AB. All rights reserved.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Post & Voice 8.4.16 by Katie Pettigrew - Issuu