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The Pender-Topsail
Keeping a craft alive A group at Poplar Grove Plantation is keeping an old craft alive. Five ladies, the Vintage Basketmakers also teach others to make baskets. Read more on page 1B
Volume 45, No. 49
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Thursday, September 8, 2016
Pender picks up win The Pender Patriots picked up their ďŹ rst win of the season last week with a big win over South Brunswick. Read more about the fall sports season beginning on page 8A.
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The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
Minor flooding along N.E. Cape Fear River
TS Hermine brings heavy rain, little damage By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher “We were prepared for a Category 1 hurricane. I’m glad it didn’t come.� Those were the words of Pender County Emergency Management Director Tom Collins in describing Tropical Storm Hermine. The storm dumped heavy rain across Pender County Friday, but brought little else, much to the relief of emergency officials.
Pender schools outperform
“I think we fared very well,� Collins said. “We had to help a couple of people get out of their homes due to high water, but that was about it.� TS Hermine brought between six and 10 inches of rain to Pender County, but the county was spared any wind damage from the storm. “We had a lot of rain and flooding, but it didn’t give us a huge problem. The strong winds stayed aloft, and didn’t make it to the ground,� said Collins.
No emergency shelters were opened in the county for the storm, although Emergency Management was prepared if shelters were needed. Collins met with county department heads Thursday morning at the Emergency Operations Center in Burgaw ahead of the storm to make plans for the event. The EOC was activated during the storm. Collins said they closed up shop about 1 a.m. Saturday morning. Surf City Mayor Zander
Guy says the beach areas along Topsail Island were largely unscathed by the storm. “We had no major damage. Some of the steps at the beach access were damaged due to erosion, but no major structural damage,� Guy said. “We actually gained some sand in some areas of the beach.� Although the storm hit at the beginning of the Labor Day holiday, Guy said it didn’t appear to have caused many people to interrupt their beach plans for the holiday.
Taking advantage of the storm
state average By Miranda Roberts Special to the Post & Voice
Burgaw receives grant for storm water improvement By Barbara Hazle Post & Voice Staff Writer
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The Town of Burgaw recently was awarded $919,340 from the North Carolina Division of Water Resources and the Golden LEAF Foundation to assist with improvements to area flooding. Storm water improvements at Pender Memorial Hospital and Osgood Canal include replacing undersized culverts along the canal resulting in reduced pooling and flooding during heavy rainstorms. In 2014 the Town of Burgaw received a $25,000 grant to study seven spots that flooded in Burgaw, of which a major one was directly in front of Pender Memorial Hospital. At the time Rebekah Roth, the Planning Administrator for the town, said the flooding had been an issue for years. The main and emergency entrances to Pender Memorial
The State Board of Education approved the READY Accountability report Sept. 1, during its regular meeting. According to the report, Pender County Schools’ graduation rate increased to 90.3 percent in 2015-16, outpacing the state average of 85.8 percent. The district’s five-year graduation rate rose to 90.6 percent. This has been an ongoing trend for the district since 2008, with four-year cohort graduation rates increasing 26 percent over the past 8 years. “We have made every effort to ensure every student graduates and will continue to do so in 2016-17,� said Dr. Terri Cobb, Pender County Schools Superintendent. “Our goal is for all students to graduate college and career ready, which includes earning a high school diploma.� Pender County Schools outperfor med the state in the percentage of students in grades 3-8 who scored gradelevel proficient in the areas of reading, math, and science. The district also received high
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Pender County Emergency Management Director Tom Collins talks with county department heads Thursday at the Emergency Operations Center in Burgaw. The EOC was activiated for TS Hermine, and was in operation until early Saturday morning.
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Tropical Storm Hermine didn't bring much damage to Pender County, but it did manage to kick up the surf and bring the surfers out Saturday morning to work the waves.
Starved horse recovering By Jefferson Weaver Contributing Writer A horse whose name is Greek for hope is rapidly becoming a celebrity in Pender County. Elpida, better known as Ellie, is a 20plus year-old palomino seized in August by Columbus County Animal Control. She’s currently in the care of Cape Fear Equine Rescue, a non-profit organization based in Rocky Point. Ellie required acute care from the
day she was picked up, so she has been housed at the home of the group’s leader, Crystal Jordan. “She’s a sweet, sweet girl,� Jordan said in an email. CFER and Columbus County Animal
Continued on page 10A Photo contributed
Elpida—better known as Ellie—is rapidly becoming a celebrity among the horses currently being cared for by Cape Fear Equine Rescue.
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Hospital flood multiple times a year and the water can be more than 12 inches high, making it impossible to enter or exit the hospital from the front. “Once this project is completed there will be increased access to the PMH parking and surrounding buildings and doctor’s offices.� said Chad McEwen, Burgaw Town Manager. Securing these grants was the result of a collaborative effort between the town and the hospital. “This is a great win-win for all involved,� said Ruth Glaser, President of Pender Memorial Hospital. The Golden LEAF (Longterm Economic Advancement Foundation) Foundation is based in Rocky Mount and includes on its Board of Directors Hampstead’s Carolyn Justice, former Pender County
Continued on page 7A
Abducted children safe, mother arrested
From Staff Reports A woman was arrested Sept. 1 after allegedly abducting her at a school bus stop • Lawnchildren Tractors • Zero Turn in Pender County and fleeing Trimmers & Chainsaws to South Carolina. Nickole Legeria Pratt was taken in to custody by Lexington County South Carolina Sheriff ’s Deputies about 1 p.m. Sept. 1. The children, ages seven and six, were in foster care and are students at Malpass Corner Elementary School. They were abducted Aug. 31. Pratt was charged with two counts of felony custody order violation. New Hanover
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Nickole Legeria Pratt County DSS transported the children back to North Carolina. Pratt is being held in Lexington County S.C. pending extradition back to Pender County.
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