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The Pender-Topsail
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Thursday, January 4, 2018
2018 is off to a cold start in Pender County with the annual Dolphin Dip. Read about the cold plunge on page 1B and see more photos on page 12A and on Facebook. Sports writer Bobby Norris takes a look back at the biggest sports stories of the year. Read more in Sports on page 7A.
The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
Volume 48, No.13
Part 2
50 Cents
A cold start to 2018
Post & Voice 2017 Year in review
problems with the Belvedere water system. Utilities, Inc., the private company which operates the water system, is seeking a rate hike from the state commission. August •Gov. Roy Cooper toured the Pender County Water Treatment Plant today with Pender County officials. This visit comes one week after Cooper directed state employees to work on the GenX contamination in the Cape Fear River. •Burgaw residents are reporting a number of phone scams employing a different twist – the calls use local numbers. One elderly Burgaw resident reported a number of phone scam calls, each using a local number, but obviously not originating in Pender County. •Vacationers left in the dark on the Outer Banks found a ray of sunshine on Topsail Island in recent weeks. When the lights went out on the Outer Banks, vacationers were told to evacuate Ocracoke and Hatteras. Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew •Pender County CommisDespite bitter cold on the beach (27 degrees at dip time) and wind chill in the teens, an enthusiastic crowd took sioners approved a resolution the plunge at the 16th annual Dolphin Dip in Surf City New Years Day. See more photos on page 12A and on to allow beer and wine sales Facebook. on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. Currently, sales are allowed to begin at noon. The move will only affect unincorporated areas of Pender County. •In a marathon re por t to Pender County CommisBy Lori Kirkpatrick nity. We are working to bring sioners lasting more than Post & Voice Staff Writer the greatness of Kava back 90 minutes, North Carolina in 2018. We are soon to open Department of TransportaA business offering the our next location in Hamption officials outlined changes controversial substance krastead, The K-Spot, Kratom and and revisions to projects in tom opened in Hampstead CBD Dispensary. CC Kava and Hampstead and other areas Kratom Bar is an all natural of the county. The report was Jan. 2. K-Spot, described as a kratom and CBD dispensary, supplemental and drink bar is owned by Chris Hansen. that is non-alcoholic, aimed at Continued on page 2A He also owns CC Kava and providing relaxation and stress Kratom Bar in Jacksonville. reduction. Proponents of the use of the In the FDA advisory statebotanical substance see it as ment, Commissioner Gottlieb explained the FDA’s mounting the country for abuse of pre- a safe treatment for a broad concerns regarding the risks scription painkillers. Cast- range of conditions including PushhasMowers • Lawn Tractors • Zero Turn Mowers associated with the use of krataken many supplement, mood enhancer, light estimates 11.6 percent pain, anxiety and depression. rope, kratom Trimmers & Chainsaws However, U.S. Food and tom. He said that people are other forms. It is now possible or a legal high. of the city’s population that K-Spot owner Chris Hansen treating serious conditions receives prescription pain- Drug Administration Com- to buy dried leaves, powder, killers abuses them. And missioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. tinctures, resin and enhanced recently announced the open- with the substance when they that does not include those released an advisory state- leaves. The leaves are dried ing of the new dispensary on should be getting a proper diagnosis from a licensed health who obtain the pills outside ment in November about the and consumed in powder, tea the CC Kava webpage. I would like to thank ev- care provider. Additionally, of a prescription. Actually, deadly risks associated with or bar form. Kratom is currently legal eryone for making yourselves evidence shows that kratom 22 out of the top 25 cities are kratom. Kratom is a plant that grows to possess and use in many more aware of the potential of has similar effects to narcotics located primarily in rural and Southern states. Hampstead/ naturally in Thailand, Malay- European countries and in the Kratom. Our continued fight like opioids and carries simiPender County is not immune sia, Indonesia and Papua New U.S – although it is currently for our rights must endure lar risks of abuse, addiction Guinea. Despite being used on the FDA’s radar. Having until our voices are heard and and in some instances, death. from this growing problem. In the FDA advisory stateThe forum, sponsored by by the native peoples of these become popular in the United heard loudly. CC Kava will the church Outreach Ministry, countries for centuries, it is States in the last few years, continue to promote a better ment, Gottlieb wrote “it’s not is open to the public. Coffee illegal in all three. Originally, kratom has been marketed and option for many, advocate for surprising that often kratom and light refreshments will the leaf was usually chewed, distributed as having broad common sense, and continue to but since its adoption in Eu- healing properties, a dietary bring awareness to our commube available. Continued on page 9A
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Editor’s note: Each year the Post & Voice reviews the top news stories from the front pages of the newspaper. This week we review the months of July through November. July •Pender County Utilities is doing GenX test-ing beyond the tests conducted by the N.C. Division of Environmental Quality. According to Michael M ack, Pender Utilities Director, 45 water samples were delivered to N.C. State University June 26 for testing. •Pender County Health and Human Services Director Carolyn Moser told County Commissioners Monday she expects the first round of water testing for GenX contamination to begin to arrive as early as July 12. •Finished water from the Pender County water treatment plant has some of the lowest concentrations of GenX compared to other water sources in the region. •Burgaw Town Manager Chad McEwen resigned last week to accept a job as assistant Pender County manager. McEwen resigned last week following the July 11 town board meeting. McEwen has served as Burgaw town manager since 2011, following the retirement of Martin Beach. •After a Monday meeting in Wilmington with local, state and federal officials, Gover nor Roy Cooper announced next steps that the state will take to protect the drinking water in the Lower Cape Fear. •Pender County Commissioners George Brown and David Williams sent a letter to the North Carolina Utilities Commission regarding
In this edition...
Kratom under investigation by the FDA
Controversial substance sold at Hampstead business
Opioid crisis forum Jan. 11
From Staff Reports A special forum to discuss the opioid crisis in Pender County is scheduled for Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 107 Deerfield Drive, Hampstead (located behind Port City Java). Pender County Sheriff Carson Smith will lead the discussion and help answer questions and concerns from the public about the effects of the opioid epidemic in our county. According to Castlight Health, a San Francisco-based health care information company, Wilmington rates first in
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