Post & Voice 12.27.18

POST Voice

Vol. 49, No.11

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Fifty Cents

The Pender-Topsail

The Media of Record for the People of Pender County www.post-voice.com

BOC special meeting scheduled

B

rniture OutďŹ tt ers ,

ONE

SHOPPING I

Serving Topsail Island for Over

•Mattresses •Accessories •Artwork •Flags •Jewelry •Candles

. nc

&

e

Fu ach

20 Years! •Lamps •Gifts •Hammocks •Outdoor Furniture •Puzzles

Furnishing Tom Clark Beach Homes Artwork Gnomes is Our Speciality 25% Off!

-Free Local Delivery and Setup204-F N. New River Dr. • Surf City, NC • 910.32 8.4181 www.BeachFurnitureO utďŹ ttersInc.com

The Burgaw Courthouse Square

Property purchase on the agenda From Staff Reports T h e Pe n d e r C o u n t y Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m. Dec. 28,.

The purpose of the meeting will be to approve the purchase of 102 S. Walker Street, Burgaw. The meeting may be conducted by members participating via telephone. A speakerphone will be made available in the Board of Commissioners meeting room located at the Pender County Administration Building, 805 S. Walker Street, Burgaw, by which the public may listen to the proceedings.

No other items will be discussed.

Questions may be directed to the County Manager’s office by calling 910259-1200.

From Staff Reports A Burgaw man is facing federal prison time for cocaine sales.

The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., said that U. S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced Sharon Darmina Respus, 31, of Burgaw to 100 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

On July 25, 2018, Respus pled guilty to distribution of a quantity of cocaine.

On Sept. 20, 2017 law enforcement officials conducted a controlled purchase of a quantity of cocaine from Respus in the area of West Satchwell Street.

According to law enforcement, the investigation found that Respus was involved with the distribution of approximately one kilogram of cocaine between September and December 2017.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Pender County Sheriff ’s Office, Burgaw Police, Onslow sheriff ’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Staff photo by Katie H. Pettigrew

Burgaw continues to be a destination for those seeking small-town Christmas charm. Many businesses around town decorated their storefronts for the holiday season.

January-August

2018 Pender County news in review

By Andy Pettigrew Post& Voice Publisher Each year, we take time in the last two editions of the year to review the major news stories in Pender County.

Without a doubt, the biggest story of the year is the ongoing impact Hurricane Florence on Pender County. The county is arguably the hardest-hit county in the state from the historic storm.

At the end of 2018, Pender County residents are still dealing with the aftermath of this very slowmoving Category 1 storm, which hit the county in mid-September and brought more than 30 inches of rain.

Destructive flooding occurred across most of Pender due to the record-setting rainfall. At the time of this writing, many residents are still out of their homes, with a large number living in temporary housing provided by FEMA. County government continues to work to remove storm debris on roadsides more than three months after the storm. The impact of Florence will be felt across Pender County for years to come.

January-February Winter Storm Grayson The new year came in with a blast of winter as a strong winter

%

Pender County goverment offices will be closed Dec. 24-27

Burgaw man heads for federal prison

storm hit Pender County, bringing ice, snow, and bitterly cold temperatures.

Winter storm Grayson, which resembled a hurricane without the eye, moved up the coast and dropped snow on the county Jan. 4.

Three to five inches of snow fell on Pender County with temperatures barely above freezing during the day and in the mid to low teens at night. Snow and ice lingered, making roads dangerous.

Many roads across the county were damaged as a result of the weather and ice clearing operations.

Sheriff’s race draws crowd With the official filing period beginning Feb. 12 and funning through Feb. 28, a number of Push Republican candidates for sheriff began to enter the race. The Republican field of candidates included Chester Ward, Alan Cutler, Randy Burton, Joseph Cina, Jimmie Stokes, Jason Spivey, and Larry Brown.

The May primary produced Alan Cutler as the winner to represent the Republican Party, with Lawrence Fennell as the Democrat candidate. Cutler won the November election.

School threats A Snapchat post Feb. 20 about a

possible school shooting resulted Ultimately, the BOC approved in an arrest of a 14-year-old Top- a plan to remove trees that were sail High student and a 15-year-old deemed diseased, dying or a hazard Trask student were charged with from the Square following the 2018 making a false report concerning N.C. Blueberry Festival. The tree mass violence on Educational removal began, much to the disproperty. tress of some county residents.

March-May Candidates forum April 5 School, law enforcement take threats The Pender County Post & Voice seriously Candidates Forum was held April School and law enforcement of- 5 at the Government Annex in ficials say all potential threats to Hampstead. Candidates for sheriff, schools and students will be inves- school board, and county comtigated. A drawing found at Trask mission attended and answered High School prompted concern. questions submitted from the Trask principal Tasha Diggs said a audience. “threatening drawingâ€? was found The bulk of forum time was takin a classroom and was turned in en up by the candidates for sheriff, to administrators. with seven Republican candidates Diggs said students were in no on hand for the event. Ultimately, danger, but all threats were taken Alan Cutler was chosen from the seriously. • A 15-year-old was arRepublican field to represent the Mowers Lawn Tractors • Zero Turn Mowers rested Monday after the handwritparty on the November ballot.

Trimmers & Chainsaws ten note was found that depicted a Cutler went on to win the election drawing of a school shooting. for sheriff.

Capt. James Rowell of the Pend- Pender County property revaluaer County Sheriff ’s Office says tion all school threats will be taken Pender County residents are seriously. seeing white vans around the BOC discusses Courthouse tree county as the scheduled property removal revaluation takes place. Tax AsPender County Commissioners sessor Justin Pound says the curtabled a plan to remove about 19 rent revaluation has relied more trees from the Courthouse square on technology than having people at the board’s Feb. 20 meeting. The visit each piece of property in the discussion was moved to the Mar. 19 session.

Continued on page 11A

SALES • SERVICE • PARTS • DELIVERY Financing Available

THE BEST FOR LESS

Ask about our end-of-season ITĘźS TIME TO GET 20% Off, $0 mos.

COMMERCIAL FLEET SALE Zero Turn & (2) Handhelds,clearance onDown, select 48 products.

" & & &! "&! ! ! ! ! & ! & ! " # $

Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/PostVoice

whitetractorcompany.com

WHITE TRACTOR CO.TRACTOR INC. (WY "Y 0ASS 3 "URGAW s WHITE CO. INC. For a limited time at participating local independent Husqvarna dealers only. whitetractorcompany.com (WY "Y 0ASS 3 "URGAW s

Rooks

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 2A

Pender Education Partnership offers HOPE to educators

(Formerly S & W Mini Storage)

By Tammy Proctor Special to the Post & Voice Pender Education Partnership (PEP), a non-profit foundation established to enhance educational opportunities and assist public school educators, presented $10,800 to 27 Pender County staff and teachers who were impacted by Hurricane Florence.

“PEP agreed we needed to help our educators,” said Tammie Parris, interim treasurer of PEP. “We established a fund online and Dave Stipe, our president, spread the word about the great need in our school system.”

“Hurricane Florence left more than 80 Pender County staff displaced,” said Dr. Steven Hill, superintendent of Pender County Schools. “This community came together for a worthy cause to assist our staff and students.”

PEP’s fundraiser was named HOPE, Help Our Pender Educators. PEP’s goal of raising $10,000 was exceeded, thanks to the generosity of residents, businesses, and organizations, including the Kiwanis Club of Topsail Island and the Wilmington Kiwanis Club.

“Several directors on the PEP board were impacted

by Hurricane Florence,” said Parris. “We understand the recovery process is hard. Our goal with this gift is to show our support and appreciation for

Mini Storage

Office is located at Rooks Lawn & Garden Center 1501 NC Hwy. 53W Burgaw, NC

307 N. Smith St. Burgaw, NC 28425 910.259.3302

HELP WANTED: HIRING ROOFERS NOW! $10-20/hr/depending on knowledge MUST BE EXPERIENCED IN METAL AND SHINGLES; NC DL or ID AND TRANSPORTATION REQUIRED. CALL 910-285-1114 ….. OR EMAIL TO OFFICEMAIL@DLJORDANCOMPANY.COM Photo contributed

Tammie Parris presents HOPE funds to Dr. Steven Hill to assist Pender County School staff who were impacted by Hurricane Florence. our Pender County School educators and staff and to make their holiday a little brighter.”

PEP hosts the annual April Spelling Bee at Heide Trask High School, a funfilled evening that pits good-natured competition

between local businesses, teachers, and civic organizations. This year PEP will sponsor the first State of Education and Economy program on Jan. 31, 5:307:30 p.m. at Mojo Tone in Burgaw.

Pender Education Part-

nership is a 501 (c) 3 foundation with a mission of providing educator minigrants and senior scholarships. For more information visit their webpage or Facebook page or contact a board member.

Summer camps support Sea Turtle Hospital

KDT Spinal

Decompression 00 Only $

1500

By Lori Kirkpatrick Post & Voice Staff Writer For the past 18 years, WB Surf Camp and Sea Turtle Camp has given a portion of every camper’s tuition to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. Every year the amount has increased, and this year’s donation of $22,535 pushed the total to over $150,000.

The check was presented by one of WB Surf Camp and Sea Turtle Camp founders, Jen Civelli Dec. 13. Civelli has been volunteering with the sea turtle hospital since 2000.

“It’s just a magical place, and everything they do goes with our mission,” said Civelli. “WB Surf Camp is a residential program. All of our residential programs are housed and run out of North Topsail. It’s all run off volunteers at the sea turtle hospital. Thank goodness for that. There are so many people that give so much of their time there.”

Civelli said that the hospital’s current facility a game changer. When they were in the old hospital, it was difficult to get people in there because it was so small. Now people can see more and truly appreciate what the volunteers do, and see how much work goes into what they do.

“We started Sea Turtle

We stepped out for Also Offering Massage Therapy at Both Locations. a moment.

We now have early appointments at: 7:00 a.m. and are also open until 6:00 p.m. for your convenience

Acute Spinal We will return by 1:30.

Care Center

Photo contributed

Rick and Jen Civelli present Sea Turtle Hospital Director Jean Beasley (center) with money raised during the 2018 season of summer camps.

Camp as another avenue to be able to support the sea turtle hospital. It’s strictly a residential marine science camp. Obviously the focus is sea turtles, but the mission is to develop stewards for the ocean environment and for protecting it,” said Civelli.

A couple of different programs are offered, including the Flagship program.

Students are able to spend time volunteering in the hospital with the summer interns. They get to participate in the feeding and bathing of the turtles. They also get to become hands-on participants in taking care of the sea turtles and the hospital itself.

“They do a lot of other

science, as well. We partner with Cape Fear Community College. They do trawls out on the research boats, and they go to Bald Head Island.

Everything is hands-on.

We’re really believers in experiential learning,” said Civelli.

Campers come from all over the world to participate. So far, students from across the United States and from 28 different countries have attended the camps.

They also run scuba and marine science programs for 10 to 12-year-olds. Sea Turtle Camp starts at age 13.

“The cool thing about sea turtle camp is that the campers are all there for the right reasons. They all

have a love and want to learn more about marine science. We require them to have two letters of reference from two teachers.

That really lets us know that their maturity level is there to be working around endangered species; and that they have the desire to go into marine science or environmental science, or something of that nature. It really is great because you have all these like-minded kids that are at camp for the same reason - but they are also there to have fun, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Civelli.

For more information about the summer camps, visit www.wbsurfcamp. com.

Landowners, some farm lessees don’t need hunting licenses Checking licenses of hunters and anglers is a day-to-day task for Wildlife officers, but some sportsmen actually do not need a license, under some circumstances.

Landowners and farmers who lease land primarily for agricultural purposes are exempt from many state license requirements, Enforcement Officer Lawrence Pipkin said.

“It’s a common question,” he explained, “but a landowner and his immediate family living with him, or a farmer leasing land for agricultural production, don’t have to have a license

Law Office of

on that property.”

Other rules still apply, Pipkin said.

“You still have to tag your big game, and you still

Continued on page 11A

Zachary S. Rivenbark 0ERSONAL )NJURY s 7RONGFUL $EATH -EDICAL -ALPRACTICE $7) s 4RAFlC 4ICKETS s #RIMINAL &AMILY ,AW s %STATE 0LANNING

910.259.7772

www.pendercountyattorney.com

Dr. Joseph Davis, Chiropractor THANK YOU.

206 S. Wright St • Burgaw, NC 28425 • 910-259-4545 7658-A Market St. • Wilmington, NC 28411 • 910-686-4545

POST Voice The Pender-Topsail

&

USPS 897-020 Published Every Thursday.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

In Pender County

Delivery Cost $5.45 Cost of Paper $23.00 Sales Tax: $1.55 Per Year: $30.00

Out-of-County

Delivery Cost $20.45 Cost of Paper $23.00 Sales Tax: $1.55 Per Year: $45.00

*Subscriptions are NON-REFUNDABLE. Post Voice, LLC

DBA Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

Periodicals Postage Paid at Burgaw, NC 28425

POSTMASTER Send Changes of Address to: Pender-Topsail Post & Voice P.O. Box 955, Burgaw, NC 28425

Hours:

Mon., Tues., & Fri. 9a.m. - 4p.m.

CLOSED on Wednesday & Thursday News & Advertising: 910.259.9111 email: posteditor@post-voice.com

DEADLINE for News & Advertising is Friday @ Noon Andy Pettigrew, Publisher/Managing Editor Katie H. Pettigrew, Advertising/Design Director Brenda Todd, Advertising Rep Bobby Norris, Sports Writer Staff Writers: Lori Kirkpatrick Contributing Writers: Lee Wagner, Dr. Ray Mendenhall, Hope Cusick, Bill Messer

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

Opinion Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 3A

On Island Time

Missy (Gail) Ostrishko www.gailo.com

Opening presence Who can resist the sound of a child chanting ‘let’s open presents’?

Something about their mere presence makes celebrations feel like more fun. And children are palpably present, unlike their adult counterparts who are typically wondering what comes next. Young ones can get as excited about the wrapping as they do about the gift itself. I admit I do love the process of packaging my presents so they have significant presence.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could embrace life’s packaging with similar eagerness and openness?

After all, it is the journey, right, not the destination.

And life’s most promising opportunities often come clothed as challenge and hard work.

Have you noticed how after the holidays inquiring minds want to know: What did you get for Christmas? Next they may ask how and with whom did you spend your time.

The older we get the more we realize it is not what is under the tree that matters as much as who gathers around it with us.

Adults are always busy working on ‘to dos’ while children work at perfecting ‘ta das.’ Why not create a ‘to be’ list for the New Year, rather than the traditional to do list, and start it with a plan to be more fully present.

Practicing presence is paramount to hearing and honoring our purpose on this planet, yet many neglect to navigate this priceless path. I recently heard the suggestion of entering a closet or bathroom where it is dark and free of distractions to experience the essence of presence and learn to live it.

My surrogate sister gave me a wonderful wall hanging with multiple reminders of the importance of living and loving life in the present. My God parents gave me a beautiful butterfly necklace that also says ‘live in the present moment’ on the back of the butterfly. These glorious gifts are priceless compliments confirming that those in my close circle see me practicing this principle in a manner that has meaning for those around me.

Where are you the most present? And who can benefit most from your presence?

As we embark on another new year, it is a perfect time to reflect on your past and anticipate your future, but be sure to practice presence in the process.

Many will make New Year’s resolutions, only to abandon them within days.

My New Year’s challenge to you is this: commit to being more fully present in every moment and give the gift of your presence whenever possible. It truly is a priceless present; the gift that keeps on giving.

Jefferson Weaver

Mischief, mystery and a Christmas clipping It would surprise no one to find files on top of files of newspaper clippings in our household.

Many are clips of stories written by Papa, Mother or myself, for any of a couple dozen publications for which one or the other of us wrote. Others are stories you might find in anyone’s home, pieces involving awards or family members or friends. Many are stories about places or things of interest to someone in the family, the interest often forgotten through the years.

We also have, as I have mentioned before, dozens of memories clipped by my Great-Grandfather Traylor, a habit carried on by his daughter, my beloved Aunt Eleanor (never say Great Aunt Eleanor—it implied her age, which a lady should never allow to be known.)

Mr. Traylor was involved in everything social and civic; the clippings are mainly of historic importance, unless they were social events or stories of personal interest to him. Many of those clippings were from his days as the leader and organizer of The Young Men’s Choral Society. That’s with a capital “The,” thank you. The Young Men’s Choral Society was the complete name for the group, in that quaint writing style so beloved by Victorian-era newspeople.

His stated reason for founding the Society, I might add, was to keep young men out of mischief. I guess young women didn’t get into mischief back then.

Other clips of Grandfather’s tell stories of the Great War; some are family notices from the same time, noting the deaths of young men he had sought to keep safe from mischief, but couldn’t keep safe in the trenches of World War I. Intermingled with all these clippings are those which were neatly snipped by Aunt Ellie. I spent many a visit rooting through the two drawers of musty old clippings and notes in the bureau that filled one side of her little old lady’s parlor.

Aunt Ellie’s are more personal than Grandfather’s; most are stories about family members passed on forty years before I was born. Others are bylined pieces by Papa, with a few by Mother, and a scant few by myself, since Aunt Ellie was getting on in years when I finally began writing. Unlike many old maids, she never seemed to have that nurturing streak so common among folks with no grandchildren of their own. She wasn’t mean or anything; she just didn’t easily tolerate kids from outside the family (although she doted on myself, my cousins and siblings).

One of the clips, which we keep in its own folder, is entitled “Yes, Virginia.”

I’ve never known who clipped that column out of a 1927 paper; it doesn’t seem like the kind of thing either Aunt Ellie or Grandfather would do. It bugs me every year about this time.

Mr. Traylor was a gentleman’s gentleman, and a man’s man for that time.

A veteran of the War Between the States, he eventually went to work for the Smithsonian Institute. He gathered things for our nation’s museum— stuffed animals, bones, Indian relics, Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, and the airplane by Dr. Langley that may actually have beaten the Wright Brothers into the sky. “Yes, Virginia” just doesn’t seem like something Grandfather would clip and save for years.

Nor does it really seem like something Aunt Ellie would save. The column was written when she was about two, and this version was clipped when she was a young woman in a growing, busy, modern town full of power.

Shoot, the looker that she was in 1927, I doubt Aunt Ellie had time to clip “Yes, Virginia,” especially around the holidays.

Notes from the Field

St. John leaps with joy: another miracle birth

Bill Messer

Jefferson Weaver So who clipped “Yes, Virginia?”

It’s entirely possible it was snipped by someone else and just dropped into a scrapbook sixty or seventy years ago.

Aunt Ellie was the unofficial historian and ratpacker of Papa’s family, and it could easily have been in someone else’s belongings.

It’s also possible, even likely, that Aunt Ellie looked out the window one day and had a fit of the Christmas Spirit.

Or maybe Grandfather was reading the newspaper at his desk at the museum—the desk where he eventually suffered the stoke that would kill him— and decided on a whim that Francis Church’s column was worthy of a place in our family scrapbooks.

Either way, that clipping has wandered along with our family through many years.

Papa ran it in several papers in Virginia, and a couple in Sampson County, but when we ran it in the Dunn Dispatch sticks out the most in my mind. It became a bit of a ceremony each year for Papa to type out the column, with a little modern commentary, on a sheet of the old yellow pulp paper. He would then carry it through the drafty old newspaper office to the typesetters, and wait for the final product to be prepared for printing. Sometimes Mama typed the copy. I always looked forward to the day when I was old enough to have that responsibility.

It made no sense to me to type the same story over again each year, then hand it to the typesetter like it was any other piece of copy. But it was a tradition.

That old clipping is getting too fragile to leave home anymore, so I have bowed to a little modern pressure and made use of technology to bring our readers “Yes, Virginia.” We don’t use typesetters anymore, so I couldn’t pound out a commentary about the importance of “Yes, Virginia” on my Papa’s old Royal.

That typewriter still sits here beside me, though, as I write this column on a computer. It’s a tradition, you see.

“Yes, Virginia” is also a tradition that lives on, with a few modern modifications in the delivery, though not the words or the message. I hope Papa and Aunt Ellie and Mr. Traylor approve.

Besides, without “Yes, Virginia,” there may as well not be any Santa Claus.

PS -- I have no idea, as we slowly make sense of the jumbled remains of boxes we tried to save from Hurricane Matthew, if that clipping survived. We lost a lot of old family things, as many of you did, but we saved a lot, too.

I sincerely hope that sometime in the next week or so, I’ll put my hand on just the right box at just the right time, and find a fragile yellowed clipping of a that smells of dust and old ink and maybe just a hint of Christmas. Even if it didn’t survive, the editorial itself is easily found, both online and in print, still carrying the same story of love and hope and childhood innocence, and for our family anyway, a lot of tradition.

Merry Christmas.

There is more to this story than the popular narratives. I read the Bible’s Christmas story once again, and was reminded that the angel Gabriel had visited another woman when he visited Mary, and another significant birth took place. This is an account of the birth of St. John the Baptist, born to Mary’s cousin Elizabeth.

John would later baptize Jesus. The following text is taken from Luke 1 and 2: In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.

But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.

Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this

good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them.

They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered.

“May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Continued on page 8A

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept.

21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial.

“DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.

“Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.

“Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’

“Please tell me the truth; is there a

Santa Claus?

“VIRGINIA O’HANLON. “115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET.” VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see.

They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little.

In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as Continued on page 4A

Elizabeth greets Mary. Elizabeth’s son John will baptize Mary’s son, Jesus

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 4A

Welcome to my world

Regina Hill Post & Voice Columnist Editor’s Note: Last week part of Regina Hill’s column was inadvertantly left out of the paper. So here is the column in it’s entirety.

Merry Christmas.

Sorry kids I almost feel sorry for

My Spin

Tom Campbell

We need a little Christmas Have you driven around North Carolina recently? More people have decorated with outdoor lights, blowups and festive displays than we’ve seen in years.

I believe I know why.

It’s been a really hard year. Folks feel beaten up, burned out and bankrupted. They are weary, pessimistic and don’t much trust anyone or any organization.

Our state has had an especially troubled 2018. Hurricanes, floods and even a snowstorm battered us badly. Our farmers are experiencing the worst conditions since perhaps The Great Depression.

Just as crops were ready for harvest, Hurricane Florence drowned many of them. This “perfect storm” was completed by the combination of tariffs and a crash in the price of corn, soybeans, pork and other farm products. Other businesses, like tourism, retailing and fishing also suffered losses and it will

Virginia

Continued from page 3A compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa

kids these days. The magic of childhood throws me into fits of nostalgia as I recall a carefree world of play reliant upon imagination and creativity. My cousins and I spent entire afternoons bouncing up and down on our Inchworms in open, outdoor spaces without fear of abduction.

Our parents weren’t worried that we’d be rounded up for transport to a third world country and sold into a slave trade cartel. We weren’t constantly bombarded with notifications from all manner of social media dinging every minute on electronic devices.

Our toys didn’t emit seizure inducing blinking lights and interactive robotic voices nor did many require the use of batteries. Toys weren’t

celebrated for being gross or in poor taste and many promoted the use of hands-on manipulation or a storytelling component to foster active creative play.

Take baby dolls, for instance. Baby Alive was my favorite. She was soft, ate food which I prepared, drank from a special bottle and then discreetly pooped into her tiny disposable diaper. I spent many hours telling her stories, arranging playdates with my cousins’ baby dolls and ensuring that she was properly cared for.

Recently, I was perusing the toy aisle at a local store and was taken aback by the hardness of baby dolls. Literally, a lot of these babies were as hard as rocks and some were even the size of a toddler.

be years before we forget roadsides piled high with family possessions ruined by flooding.

For a short time we came together as a state to help those affected.

Neighbor helped neighbor, strangers showed up providing acts of kindness and people opened their pocketbooks and their hearts for others. It gave us hope there are indeed better angels among us.

Sadly, that help and spirit waned too soon.

Political storms were as bad. In my 50-plus years covering North Carolina I cannot remember a time when the public discourse was worse. Political leaders seem more consumed by tribal politics than by common sense or the common good.

Compromise has become so rare that we marvel on those occasions when it actually occurs.

“Gotcha” politics rules the day; one can only win if the other loses. Disruptions, lawsuits, namecalling and ugliness are the new normal.

We are so accustomed to the current climate that we don’t realize how numbed we’ve become. We can’t seem to remember when it was commonplace to speak a kind word, to let someone in line ahead of us, to reach out a hand of help, to genuinely care for others or to live in the belief that tomorrow will be better.

I leave it to you to decide if these are just ramblings from a septuagenarian who longs for simpler, happier times or if, as I suspect, they are accurate representations of the life and times in

which we live today.

After the year we’ve just experienced we want to believe, we long for warm relationships and want respite from the stream of what we see and hear around us. And maybe it is a false hope, but even if for just a few days, we yearn for that feeling of rightness with others and our world. So we string lights and decorations, wear tacky sweaters and other clothing, binge out on Hallmark movies and listen to continuous Christmas music on the radio.

In his wonderful adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, North Carolina’s great showman Ira David Wood, portraying Ebenezer Scrooge, leads his character and the audience to the conclusion that we need a little Christmas. Indeed, we do.

For Christians, Christmas means hope on the horizon, but people of all faiths seek the hope that believing in something bigger than ourselves brings. Our wish is that you find the joy, peace, hope and contentment of this season.

As Tiny Tim says, “God bless us, every one.”

Tom Campbell is former assistant North Carolina State Treasurer and is creator/host of NC SPIN, a weekly statewide television discussion of NC issues that airs on UNC-TV main channel Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays 12:30 p.m. and UNC North Carolina Channel Fridays at 10 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m Contact him at www. ncspin.com.

Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see.

Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives

forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Text of “Yes, Virginia” courtesy of the Smithsonian.

No one delivers your LOCAL NEWS like your LOCAL NEWSPAPER. SUBSCRIBE TODAY, 910.259.9111

Although they could perform lots of functionsburping, walking, rapping, there seemed to be little potential for snuggling.

Recently, I was taken aback by an advertisement for a newly released toy. The Poopsy Slime Surprise Unicorn has officially set a new low for the modern-day toy.

This magical unicorn (four different unicorns are available-Whoopsie Doodle, Oopsie Starlight, Rainbow Brightstar, and Dazzle Darling) comes with its own glitter potty.

The fact that the slime poop exits a heart-shaped anus is beyond disturbing.

I’m not kidding. Owning this crude, slime-pooping unicorn will set a family back around $50 -although a poop keychain is included with each one.

Maybe this is a commentary on the decline of our society, but these nasty little toys are flying

off the shelves.

Of course, the kids of the seventies and eighties experienced some shameful toy snafus with the Garbage Pail Kids and Monchichi, the creepy monkey doll, but overall our toy options were much more refined.

Although I’m still slightly traumatized by cousin Glenda’s Jack in the Box and cousin Kristie’s Operation game, I know that my toys provided for positive developmental milestones. Did I beg for Sea Monkeys? Yes, but thankfully my mother refused. I pouted all the way home from K-Mart, but she saved me the disappointment of raising brine shrimp rather than the falsely advertised family of little monkey people smiling happily on the box.

In fact, I refuse to buy presents for my nephews that involve the use of a battery. Last Christmas, I

found a treasured relic of my childhood-the Fisher Price Castle. I was flooded with memories when I found one on Etsy and, ignoring the price tag, ordered it immediately for my three-year-old nephew.

Of course, I had to buy the Fisher Price dragon to go with it- another vintage purchase which was likely overpriced. When I’m finished playing, I bet Julien will love it.

I don’t consider myself a prude, but I can’t understand the mentality driving the development of these toys. A heart-shaped hole in a toy’s hiney? Who came up with that creepy little feature? Fisher Price, the future of America is riding on you. Let’s burn the pooping unicorns and replace them with Little People or even the ever unstable Weeble Wobbles.

America’s kids need you now more than ever.

Giving up those car keys Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you recommend that can help me deal with my mom’s bad driving? At age 83, her driving abilities have declined, but I know she’s bound and determined to keep driving as long as she’s alive.

Nervous Nelly Dear Nelly, There’s no doubt that giving up driving can be a tough step for many elderly seniors, as well as a difficult conversation for concerned family members.

While there’s no one way to handle this sometimes touchy topic, there are a number of tips and resources that can help you evaluate and adjust your mom’s driving, and ease her out from behind the wheel when she can no longer drive safely.

Assess her driving To get a clear picture of your mom’s driving abilities, your first step – if you haven’t already done so – is to take a ride with her and watch for problem areas. For example: Does she drive at inappropriate speeds, tailgate or drift between lanes?

Does she have difficulty seeing, backing up or changing lanes? Does she react slowly, get confused easily or make poor driving decisions? Also, has your mom had any fender benders or tickets lately, or have you noticed any dents or scrapes on her vehicle? These, too, are red flags. For more assessment tips see SeniorDriverChecklist.info.

If you need help with

this, consider hiring a driver rehabilitation specialist who’s trained to evaluate older drivers.

This typically runs between $100 and $200. Visit AOTA.org/older-driver or ADED.net to locate a specialist in your area.

Transitioning and talking After your assessment, if you think it’s still safe for your mom to drive, see if she would be willing to take an older driver refresher course.

These courses will show her how aging affects driving skills, and offers tips and adjustments to help ensure her safety. Taking a class may also earn your mom a discount on her auto insurance.

To locate a class contact your local AAA (AAA. com) or AARP (AARP.org/ drive, 888-227-7669). Most courses cost around $20 to $30 and can be taken online or in a classroom.

If, however, your assessment shows that your mom really does need to stop driving, you need to have a talk with her, but don’t overdo it.

If you begin with a dramatic outburst like “mom, you’re going to kill someone!” you’re likely to trigger resistance. Start by simply expressing your concern for her safety.

For more tips on how to talk to your mom about this, the Hartford Financial Services Group and MIT AgeLab of fers a variety of resources at

TheHartford.com/lifetime – click on “Publications” on the menu bar, then on the “We Need To Talk” guidebook.

Refuses to quit If your mom refuses to quit, you have several options. One possible solution is to suggest a visit to her doctor who can give her a medical evaluation, and if warranted, “prescribe” that she stops driving. Older people will often listen to their doctor before they will listen to their own family.

If she still refuses, contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles to see if they can help. Or, call in an attorney to discuss with your mom the potential financial and legal consequences of a crash or injury. If all else fails, you may just have to take away her keys.

Alternative transportation Once your mom stops driving she’s going to need other ways to get around, so help her create a list of names and phone numbers of family, friends and local transportation services that she can call on.

To find out what transportation services are available in her area, contact the Rides in Sight (RidesInSight.org, 855-6074337) and the Eldercare Locator (800-677-1116), which will direct you to her area agency on aging for assistance.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

100 Main Street, Suite One, Holly Ridge, NC 28445

ALL LINES OF INSURANCE

Since 1963

Visit Our New Location Now Open!

100 Main St., Holly Ridge

Right Behind Coastal Bank & Trust

If You’re Not Sure What To Do, PUT THE “CREW” TO WORK FOR YOU!

Hope’s Cooking Corner

By Hope Cusick

Contributing Writer

Happy New Year Recipes H a p p y N e w Ye a r !

May your year be filled with much love, happiness, health, and a little wealth!

These recipes are a nice complement to any menu you may have in mind.

The apricot sauce on the ham is very elegant and has a nice flavor. Make extra to use as a sauce if guests would like to have more. For a little zip in the flavor add a bit of Dijon mustard.

The asparagus and cauliflower dishes can be prepared the day before and cooked on the serving day.

The sweet potato casserole is a lifelong recipe in my family. As for dessert the Bundt cake will melt in your mouth.

Enjoy!

Apricot and rum glazed ham A pork tenderloin works well with this recipe also.

You might want to double the recipe for the sauce to serve along with the ham slices. Ÿ cup rum Ÿ cup finely chopped dried apricots ½ smoked fully cooked ham 1½ cups apple cider or apple juice Pinch of ground cloves, if desired (optional) ½ cup rum 2 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons brown sugar In a small bowl stir together chopped apricots and Ÿ cup rum. Set aside and let marinate for at least 45 minutes. Drain and set aside, rum may be added to glaze mixture.

In a saucepan combine together apple cider, ½ cup rum, ground cloves, if desired (optional), and b row n s u g a r, s t i r a n d bring to a boil. Simmer for 20-30 minutes until it is reduced to about 2/3 cup liquid. Stir in butter and marinated apricots, mix until butter is melted.

Cook for 3-5 minutes until apricots are very soft.

Place cooked ham in a large baking dish. With a pastry brush cover outside of ham with glaze mixture.

Bake ham according to package directions. As ham bakes, every 15 minutes, baste ham with glaze mixture. Do not over cook or the ham will dry out.

Sweet potato biscuits Makes 16 biscuits.

Cups all-purpose flour Tablespoon baking powder ½ Teaspoon baking soda Pinch of salt Tablespoons cold butter, cut into cubes Cup mashed sweet potato, about one large potato ž Cup half-and-half or evaporated milk ½ Teaspoon Chinese Fivespice or g round cinnamon Granulated sugar for sprinkling Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

With your hands rub butter into flour , or use a pastry cutter, until pastry forms small crumbles.

Whisk mashed sweet potato in a bowl with halfand-half and Chinese Fivespice.

Then add flour mixture and mix together with a fork until just blended.

Tur n out ontoa lightly

floured surface.

Knead dough one minute and roll into ½ inch thickness. Do not overwork or biscuits will become tough. Use a 2½inch round biscuit cutter and cut 16 circles. Re-roll dough as necessary.

On two baking sheets place biscuits two inches apart. Sprinkle just a small amount of sugar on top of each biscuit. Bake in a 425-degree oven for 10-15 minutes, until just beginning to brown.

Hope’s duchess potato casserole Pounds Russet white potatoes, peeled and cut into one inch cubes Cloves garlic, minced then smashed Quart chicken broth Ÿ Cup butter, more if desired ½ Cup sour cream Ÿ Cup half-and-half or evaporated milk, use more to create desired consistency.

Seasoned salt, or salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste Ounces cheddar cheese, shredded, more if desired to make more cheesey Butter pats, for topping In a large pot pour chicken broth, add potatoes and garlic. Bring pot to a boil, cover, and cook for 12-15 minutes until potatoes are tender. Drain potatoes reserving broth for another use.

Place potatoes in a large casserole baking bowl.

Mash potatoes until lump free. I like to use an electric mixer. Add butter, sour cream, half-and-half, and seasoned salt to taste, mix until well blended.

Add more liquid for desired consistency.

Smooth out top and place pats of butter over top.

Put casserole into a 425degree oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes until top is a nice golden brown.

Serve hot.

If there are any leftovers. Make potato pancakes and fry them with butter until golden brown on both sides and serve with applesauce.

Roasted asparagus with parmesan cheese 1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 clove garlic, minced then smashed ½ teaspoon dried sweet basil, crushed Salt and fresh g round black pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese Preheat oven to 400 de-

grees.

Vegetable spray a 15 x 10 –inch baking dish. Wash asparagus, break off tough ends where stalks snap easily.

In a pie dish mix together olive oil, smashed garlic, basil, salt and pepper. Toss asparagus in this mixture until well coated. Spread asparagus in pan. Roast uncovered in a 400-degree oven for 10-12 minutes. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, toss to coat and roast uncovered for another 5-8 minutes or until asparagus is crisp tender.

Cauliflower gratin 1 large head cauliflower, cored and cut into florets 1 cup heavy cream or halfand-half 1 tablespoon flour ž cup cheddar cheese, shredded or grated ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese Salt and fresh g round black pepper, to taste Ÿ cup grated Parmesan cheese ½ c u p fl avo re d b re a d crumbs 2 tablespoons cold butter,

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 5A

cut into small pieces Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl combine together cauliflower florets, cream, flour, and cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Toss to coat evenly. Transfer mixture to a buttered 2-quart casserole dish, cover tightly with foil. Bake for 30 minutes in 400-degree oven.

In a bowl mix together grated Parmesan cheese and flavored breadcrumbs.

Sprinkle over cauliflower.

Dot top with butter pieces, bake uncovered until topping is a golden brown and cauliflower is tender when pierced with a knife about 10-15 minutes. Let cool for about 5-10 minutes before serving.

Read All About It in the Post & Voice!

910.259.9111

Proceeds from the Dolphin Dip go to help support Share the Table

Thursday, December 27 s4HE +IWANIS #LUB OF (AMPSTEAD MEETS EVERY 4HURSDAY AT 7:30 a.m. at the Sawmill Grill on Hwy. 17 in Hampstead. s!LCOHOLICS !NONYMOUS WILL MEET FROM NOON P M AT the Surf City Community Center. Call 328.4887 for more information. s0ENDER #OUNTY -USEUM IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR FREE (donations are welcome) every Thursday and Friday from 1-4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Group tours are available at other times by contacting the Museum at 259-8543 by email at penderhist@hotmail.com. s7OMEN IN .ETWORKING MEETING EVERY 4HURSDAY FROM 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Olde Point Country Club. s3URF #ITY 2OTARY #LUB MEETS EACH 4HURSDAY P M AT the Topsail Moose Lodge.

Friday, December 28 s0ENDER #OUNTY -USEUM OPEN P M s4HE -ARINE #ORPS ,EAGUE $ETACHMENT MEETS FOR breakfast at the Sawmill Grill in Hampstead at 8 a.m. each Friday. s4HE 3ONS OF #ONFEDERATE 6ETERANS #OMMANDER *OE Henson, Pender County Grays Camp 2174 meets the third Friday of each month at the Pender County Library, 103 S. Cowan Street in Burgaw at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, January 1 s!L !NON MEETS EVERY 4UESDAY AT P M AT THE !LL 3AINTS Catholic Church 18737 US Hwy 17N in Hampstead. Alanon is for friends and families of alcoholics.

Wednesday January 2 s!LCOHOLICS !NONYMOUS WILL MEET FROM P M AT the Surf City Community Center, 201 Community Center Dr. Call 328.4887 for more information s4HE #OASTAL 0ENDER 2OTARY #LUB MEETS EACH 7EDNESDAY at 12:30 p.m. at the Olde Point Country Club, 513 Country Club Drive in Hampstead.

Thursday January 3 s4HE +IWANIS #LUB OF (AMPSTEAD WILL MEET AT A M AT the Sawmill Grill on Hwy. 17 in Hampstead. s!LCOHOLICS !NONYMOUS WILL MEET FROM NOON P M AT the Surf City Community Center. Call 328.4887 for more information. s7OMEN IN .ETWORKING MEETING EVERY 4HURSDAY FROM 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Olde Point Country Club. s!L !NON MEETS 4HURSDAYS AT P M AT "ARLOW 6ISTA Baptist Church annex, 22340 U.S. Hwy. 17 Hampstead. AlAnon is for friends and family of alcoholics. s(AMPSTEAD ,IONS #LUB MEETS ON THE lRST AND THIRD Thursday of each month. On the first Thursday the meeting is at the Topsail Presbyterian Church on Highway 17 in Hampstead at noon. The third Thursday of each month, the meeting is at Nineteen restaurant - located at Old Pointe Country Club at noon.

This is an opportunity for anyone interest in becoming a lion and an occasion to meet new people. s.ORTHEAST 2URITAN #LUB MEETS THE lRST 4HURSDAY OF each month with breakfast for supper from 5-8 p.m. at The Pink Supper House NC 41, Wallace Friday, January 4 s0ENDER #OUNTY -USEUM OPEN P M s4HE -ARINE #ORPS ,EAGUE $ETACHMENT MEETS FOR breakfast at the Sawmill Grill in Hampstead at 8 a.m. each Friday.

Monday January 7 s4HE "URGAW ,IONS #LUB MEETS AT P M THE lRST -ONday of each month and the third Monday 6:30 p.m. at Burgaw Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.

Tuesday January 8 s4HE -ARINE #ORPS ,EAGUE $ETACHMENT MEETS at the Topsail Senior Center, 20959 U.S. Hwy. 17 in Hampstead the second Tuesday each month at 7 p.m.

The Detachment is always looking for new member to help in its continuing mission. s4HE +NIGHTS OF #OLUMBUS #OUNCIL MEETS THE second and fourth Tuesday each month at 7 p.m. at All Saints Catholic Church, 18737 Hwy. 17 in Hampstead.

AlAnon meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the All Saints Catholic Church 18737 US Hwy 17N in Hampstead. Alanon is for friends and families of alcoholics.

Education

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 6A

Proud Sponsors of the

EDUCATION STATION

A:6GC HE6C>H=

Bruce Savannahland & Farms Written F.

by Maria D. Isabel SegoviaCheryle Williams Rivenbark Rev. James H. Faison, III District Court Judge Pender & New Hanover Counties

Quinn McGowen Funeral Home

Burgaw Area Chamber of Commerce

Christopher & Mary Debnam

Proud Sponsors of the

Representative Geraldine Savannahl and Farms Carolyn H. Justice F.DGore . Rivenbark In Memory of

Woodard

Bruce & Cheryle Wil iams

Carolyn H. Justice

Van Reid & Patricia Casaw

BILINGUAL SPANISH/ENGLISH BOOK FOR ALL AGES $13.00 Includes Tax, Handling and First Class Shipping.

Send Order to Author: Maria Isabel Segovia 1808 Rooks Road • Atkinson, NC 28421

EDUCATION PAGE

-NC House District 16-

Rev. James H. Faison, III & Family In Memory of

Our Dear Mothers, Geraldine Gore Woodard and Mary Royals Faison, Our Dear Father James H. Faison, Jr. and Our Dear Uncle McKinley Gore, Jr.

Telephone:

910-283-6242

Burgaw Area Chamber of Commerce Van Reid & Patricia Casaw Quinn McGowen Funeral Home

Christopher & Mary Debnam

Religion

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 7A

Hope is a gift

By Dr. Ray W. Mendenhall Contributing Writer The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High God, and the Lord will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.â€?‌ And Mary sang, “my soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God My Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant. Surely, from now on

Hope rings in Mary’s song. Her soul rises in gratitude and praise for the “great things� that God is doing through her.

It is not her hope alone but the hope of all the people.

God is coming in a fresh new way to bless His people and renew their faith and hope.

Jesus will bring the light and love of God to life in new and life-changing ways. Therein lies hope, that God never fails in any of His promises to us and for us.

Jesus was not an afterthought. He was not God’s Plan B. He was there from the very beginning, a part of everything that God

all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.�

Luke 1: 30-32, 46-49 The gift of this Jesus is a gift of God. Born of woman, but conceived by the Spirit of God. In the promise of this annunciation, the hope of the ages comes to fruition.

That which the people have looked for, longed for, prayed for is now coming to life in the birth of a sacred child. In advent we look for, long for, pray for this hope. We watch it arise in the simple birth of a special child.

4 C’s Food pantry open in Hampstead The Christian Community Caring Center distributed food locally to those in need. The food pantry is generously supported by local churches, businesses and individuals.

The 4C’s Food Pantry is open Monday, Wednes-

day, and Thursday from 9 a.m. until noon. Additionally, the 4C’s pantry will be open the last Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. until noon. The 4C’s Food Pantry is located in the Jones Plaza, 152 0 0 U.S. Hwy. 17 N. in Hampstead.

from 10 a.m until noon.

Most all types of bread from white to multigrain to hamburger and hotdog buns are available.

Send church news and events to posteditor@post-voice.com HENDERSON RooďŹ ng Service Wallace, NC 28466

THE FISHING EXPERTS Located in The Fishing Village

Any Type RooďŹ ng Pressure Washing 910-285-5707 910-231-0682 910-231-7068

409 Roland Avenue Surf City, NC 910.328.1887 www.eastcoastsports.com

• ALL WORK GUARANTEED •

Owned and Operated by the Debnam Family since 1979 308 W. Fremont Street Burgaw, NC 910-259-2364

NEW BEGINNING CHURCH

Riverview Memorial Park corner of Fremont & Watha, NC 910-285-3395

Wright Street (Courthouse Square) Burgaw, N.C. • 910-619-8063 Riverview Crematory

All are welcome! Pastor Bill Howell

Duplin Memorial Park OMMUNITY Wallace,RIENDLY NC 910-285-3395

C

cancer treatment centers in New Hanover County.

Volunteers are encouraged to contact Barbara Mullins at RSVP at 910-2599119, ext. 329 or at bmullins@penderpas.org

Change in Service Time:

Every Sunday at 9:00 a.m.

4th Sundays - Christian Education (Teaching)

Call us to get rid of what’s bugging you...

CANADY & SON EXTERMINATING INC.

“THE CANADY MAN CAN�

686-9541

Ndjg 6Y 8djaY 7Z =ZgZ# 8Vaa .&%#'*.#.&&& Intrepid Hardware

Harrell’s

910.675.1157, Rocky Point

FUNERAL HOME

Office of Rocky Point Mini Storage Climate Control • First Month Half Price •

S. Dickerson St. Pender’s212 Original Funeral Service Burgaw, NC 28425

& Cremation Service

910.259.2136 Affordable Prices www.harrellsfh.com Dignified Funeral Services

Our Family Serving Your Family Since 1913

Traditional Funeral Services and Cremations Preneed Arrangement Program for Advanced Funeral Planning

F

His life. There is hope in the grace and truth that He brings.

Jesus is in so many ways the Hope of the World. All of it coming across the ages by way of the Father’s love. Love is what delivered Christ to the world and our love is what keeps Him active and alive in the world.

In our love and praise, and our service in His name, Jesus still lives among us. He is still making all new things.

Got Bugs?

Located inside SOUTHERN PRINTING 203 S. Dudley St. • Burgaw, NC 910.259.4807

612 S. Norwood Street Wallace, NC 910-285-4005

Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.

910-259-2364 or 910-285-4005

The Pender Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) has developed a new partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to provide no cost transportation for Pender County cancer patients to treatment centers in New Hanover County.

The program is part of the ACS Road to Recovery Program and is for cancer patients who have no other means of transportation to and from their cancer treatment appointments.

Volunteer drivers will donate their time and vehicle to transport cancer patients to and from their

Burgaw Vape

Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home

tended by brilliant light. It even has a name.

It is called an epiphany.

God appears; light shines, epiphany! So the light that shines in Christmas and the light that shines in Christ are important signs which signal God is present in a unique way.

Light also signals hope.

The dark times are over, the shadows are gone and the world is bright with God’s holy love.

There is hope in His coming. There is hope in

Volunteers needed to transport cancer patients for treatment

Herring’s Chapel UMC bread giveaway Herring’s Chapel United Methodist Church, 1697 H e r r i n g ’s C h a p e l R d .

Burgaw, has a free bread giveaway every Saturday

was doing and would do.

He had a hand in all that God made and he shined in all that was fair, so brightly that the darkness shuddered at his light and gave way to His brightness. The world was conceived in hope and found the fulfilment of that Hope in the birth of the child of Bethlehem, in the growing life of Christ.

Light shines on the birth of Jesus. Light shines in the birth of Jesus. Light is always a hopeful sign, morning breaking, a light in the darkness, a sudden burst of sunlight into a dim and shadowy place.

In the Bible, the presence of God is almost always at-

BAPTIST CHURCH

1730 US Hwy.Cemetery 117 N. • Burgaw, NC 28425 Rockfish Memorial Wallace, NC School 910-285-3395 Sunday 9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship 11

910-259-3046

a.m., 6 p.m. www.facebook.com/downeastdisciples/

ST. MARY’S CHURCH

Church Directory

212 S. Dickerson St. • Burgaw, NC 28425 910.259.2136 www.harrellsfh.com

CENTERVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH

18577 NC 53 E, Kelly, NC • 910-669-2488

Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Worship: 11:00 a.m.

Sunday Evening Discipleship Training: 6:00 p.m. Pastor Lamont Hemminger

MOORES CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH

3107 Union Chapel Rd. • Currie, NC 28435 Pastor Roger Barnes

CURRIE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH

Sunday School: 10 a.m. Worship Service: 11 a.m.

Wednesday Prayer Service & Children’s Bible Study: 6:30 p.m.

Sunday Worship Service with Holy Eucharist: 11 a.m. www.stmaryschurchburgawnc.org

Sunday Worship: 11 a.m. Children’s Church begins at 11:15 Community Bible Study, Wednesdays from 6-7:00 P.M.

ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER CATHOLIC CHURCH

BURGAW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

WATHA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Rev. Roger Malonda Nyimi, Pastor Sunday: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. Mass Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. Mass Thursday 8:30 a.m. Mass

An Episcopal - Lutheran Community 506 S. McNeil Street, Burgaw, NC 28425 910.259.5541

28396 Hwy. 210 W. • Currie (1/2 mile from Moores Creek Battlefield)

200 E. Fremont St. • Burgaw, NC 28425

160 Camp Kirkwood Road, Watha, NC

910-470-4436

Pastor John Fedoronko

Sunday School: Sunday 9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 a.m. Adult Bible Study: 9:30-10:15 a.m. Children’s Biblical Studies (ages 3-12) from 10:45-11:30 a.m.

Worship: 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Men’s Breakfast, 2nd Sunday of Each Month, 8-9 a.m.

Ladies’ Circle, 2nd Monday of Each Month, 6:30-8 p.m.

RILEY’S CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH Choir Practice & Bible Study, Tues., 7:30-9 p.m. Youth Group Every Other Wed. 6-7:30 p.m.

19845 NC Hwy. 210, Rocky Point, NC 28457 910-675-2127 Jim Herchenhahn / Pastor ROCKY POINT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Worship Services: 8:30 a.m. & 10:50 a.m. Youth each Sunday at 6:00 p.m. located at the intersection of Hyw. 117 & 210 Pastor Mark Murphy Wednesday evenings: Meal at 6:00 p.m. / Study for all ages 7:00 p.m.

Services: Sunday at 10 a.m.

Bible Study: Tuesday at 6 p.m. www.RPUMC.org WESTVIEW UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CALVARY CHAPEL COMMUNITY CHURCH 5610 Hwy. 53 W • Burgaw, NC 28425 (Across from Pender High) 54 Camp Kirkwood Rd. • Watha, NC 28478 • 910-448-0919 Pastor Fred Roberts Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m.

Pastor: Tony Fontana Sunday School: 10 a.m. Sun. Worship: 11 a.m. & 7 p.m.

MISSION BAPTIST CHURCH Bible Study: Wednesday 7 p.m. Youth Group: Wednesday 7:00 p.m.

607 S. Walker Street • Burgaw, NC 28425

Sunday Worship: 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday Evening Dinner at 6:00 p.m. and classes at 6:45 p.m.

FAITH HARBOR UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

14201 Hwy. 50/210 • Surf City, NC 28445 • 910-328-4422 Services: 8 a.m. and 9:20 a.m. Sunday School: 10:45 a.m. http://faithharborumc.org

BURGAW UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

110 E. Bridgers Street, Burgaw, NC 28425 • 910-259-2295 Sunday School: 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship: 11:00 a.m.

BARLOW VISTA BAPTIST CHURCH

“The Church on the Hill� (910) 329-3761 22340 US Hwy 17 N Hampstead, NC 28443

Sunday School 9:45 a.m . • Worship Service at 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Study 7:00 p.m. www.barlowvistabaptistchurch.com

JORDANS CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 4670 Stag Park Rd. • Burgaw, NC 28425 • 910-259-5735 Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship: 11 a.m. & 6 p.m.

Wednesday Bible Study: 7 p.m.

THE CHURCH AT WILMINGTON

Bible Based Community Fellowship NEW Pender County Location 16660 Hwy 17 N. • Hampstead, NC 28443 (American Legion Building) 910-526-7890 Pastor: Monte Suggs Services Sunday at 10 a.m. and Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

BURGAW BAPTIST CHURCH

100 E. Bridgers Street • Burgaw, NC 28425 • 910-259-4310 Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship Service 11 a.m.

Wednesday evenings: Meal at 6 p.m. Prayer and Bible study for children, youth and adults 6:45 p.m. www.BurgawBaptistChurch.org

1303 Hwy. 117 • Burgaw, NC • 910-259-2601

CAPE FEAR COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP (CF2) 10509 US Hwy. 117 S., Rocky Point Business Park Rocky Point, NC • 910-232-7759 www.CF2.us Worship Hours: Sunday Morning, 11 a.m.

Wednesday Night, 6 p.m. Pastor: Dr. Ernie Sanchez

ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC CHURCH

18737 Hwy 17 North, Hampstead • 910-270-1477 Rev. John Durbin, Pastor

Weekend Mass Schedule: Hampstead - SAT 5 p.m., SUN 9 a.m.

Surf City - SAT 5 p.m., SUN 9 & 11 a.m. (through Labor Day) Daily Mass - Hampstead: TUES & WED 4p.m., THURS & FRI 9 a.m.

Confessions SAT 4-4:30 p.m. or by appt. www.allsaintsccnc.org

CHAPEL BY THE BAY IN LANIER’S CAMPGROUND 216 Michigan Avenue • Holly Ridge, N.C. 28445 910-328-6252 Pastor: Don Myers Associate Pastor: Nathan Swartz Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.

Evening Service 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: Bible Study 5:45 p.m.

Children’s Church 6:15 p.m. Choir Practice 7:00 p.m.

Thursday: Youth Group 6:30 p.m.

BLAKE’S CHAPEL ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH 88 Blakes Chapel Road • Hampstead, NC 28443 910-270-2576 Rev. Steve Spearing, Pastor Sunday School 10:00 a.m., Morning Worship 11:00 a.m. www.blakeschapel.org Find Us on Facebook E-mail Prayer Requests to: shareinprayer@gmail.com

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 8A

Smith is dedicated volunteer at Poplar Grove

By Lori Kirkpatrick Post & Voice Staff Writer

When Poplar Grove Plantation needs something fixed, built, cleaned up or mowed, Milford Smith is their go-to guy. For about the last 12 years, Smith has served as one of their most dedicated volunteers.

It all started because of the location of his home and a chance encounter with his neighbor, the late Mr. Robert Foy, Sr. “We had a 38-foot Harvey Rambler that I wanted to park next to my backyard, and it was on his property,” began Smith. “I went over to his house and asked him if I could park it there temporarily, and that’s how I got to meet him. Our house backs up to the walking trail back there. When we first moved in, I would go back and help Mr. Foy clear the walking trails.”

Smith had retired in his

Messer

Continued from page 3A Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke

fifties as an office manager from Alabama Power. He also successfully completed 30 years in the Army Reserve and with the Alabama Air National Guard.

Since Smith and Foy were both retired, they naturally began to spend time together and saw each other most mornings.

“I had my own coffee cup at his house. We both got up real early, so around six or seven o’clock I’d go down to his house. He lived on the sound. He’d make a pot of coffee and we’d sit out there and watch people fish and just do what old, retired people do - sit and talk,” said Smith.

After lear ning about Poplar Grove Plantation, Smith found out that they needed help with various projects.

A self-proclaimed handyman with plenty of tools and gadgets, he loves to fix and work on

just about anything that needs fixing. Smith helped build the wagons that are

up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.

Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone

went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying

still used today for Poplar Grove’s wagon rides, he put stairs where they were

needed and helped in different ways.

“It was just something to do because I’ve always been one to stay busy and I’ve always worked hard. After retiring, I wasn’t ready to just sit and watch TV all day or go to the movies or to the library. I’m still way too active. That’s what happens when you retire early,” said Smith.

Smith said that his desire to stay busy both physically and mentally is what got him started at Poplar Grove. He wasn’t looking for anything full-time. Half days, without any stress, were perfect for him. He wanted nothing to do with management, hiring, firing or delegating.

“I would do jobs that other volunteers wouldn’t want to do. I’ve heard people say, ‘I’m not mowing that grass.’

Shoot, I love that zero turn lawn mower; and when they have these events,

they need some garbage men. It’s as low stress as you can get. My doctor told me to stay active physically and mentally, but to take the stress out of it. Well, I found out how to do that,” said Smith.

For two years straight, Smith rode his bicycle over to Poplar Grove early every morning to feed the animals at the barnyard. Raised on a farm, he said that he loves the outdoors and he loves working with the animals.

He continues to volunteer his time at Poplar Grove nearly every day for a half day, single-handedly keeping the lawn manicured and helping out with whatever is needed.

“As long as I enjoy it, I’ll keep doing it. It’s kind of like a hobby, and I get to meet a lot of nice people.

My wife, Peggy, is my biggest supporter. She loves Poplar Grove too,” said Smith.

in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and

found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Milford Smith is the go-to guy at Poplar Grove when something needs to be fixed.

Subscribe Today!

910-259-9111

Obituaries

John William “Buddy” Harts ROCKY POINT -- John William “Buddy” Harts, 70, of 96 Grape Road, Rocky Point, passed away Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at Lower

Caper Fear Hospice. He was born in Forsyth County, July 19 1948, the son of the late William Frank Harts and Joy Hancock Harts.

He was also predeceased by his grandparents Franklin Keith Harts, and Amanda Watkins Harts, John Lawton Hancock, Agnes Hooker Hancock, as well as his stepdaughter, Nancy Russ Carter, and his nephew, Jacob Gareth Harts.

Buddy is survived by his wife Mary Caison Russ Harts, son John William Harts Jr., both of the home, sister Elleen Harts, Shannon of Rocky Point,brothers, Stanley Harold Harts of Rocky Point and Roger Garry Harts of Shallotte, four

This Week’s CROSSWORD

nephews, two grandnephews and three step grandchildren.

He was employed by Babcock & Wilcox before its closing, and later by Corning Glass. Before his health declined, Buddy enjoyed going fishing with his uncle and cousins, as well as clamming and oystering.

His pet chihuahua, Bambi, of 13 years, was a great comfort to him during his illness, and preceded him in death by less than a month.

Memorial Services will be held at Cora’s Grove Baptist Church, Burgaw, 6 p.m.

Dec. 26, 2018. The family was served by Wilmington Funeral & Cremation 1535 S.41st Street, Wilmington.

December 20, 2018

December 20th, Crossword Solution:

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 9A

Wildlife Commission says numbers down, but sportfish survived hurricane Nearly three months after Hurricane Florence caused substantial fish kills in many coastal rivers in North Carolina, fisheries biologists with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission have found largemouth bass, sunfish and crappie in all rivers surveyed to date, albeit in reduced numbers.

After Hurricane Florence made landfall in southeastern North Carolina on Sept. 14, fisheries biologists documented isolated fish kills in most rivers east of I-95 from South Carolina to the Virginia state line, and major fish kills in the lower Cape Fear, Northeast Cape Fear and Waccamaw rivers. Fish kills were mainly due to significant declines in dissolved oxygen levels, rather than contaminants, pollution or other factors.

The lower sections of these rivers were devoid of oxygen and unsuitable for aquatic life for more than 30 days.

After dissolved oxygen levels returned to normal, biologists began conducting electrofishing surveys to determine the extent and severity of the fish kills.

“Although their abundance was below normal, we found largemouth bass, crappie and redear sunfish in the Northeast Cape Fear, Lumber and Waccamaw rivers,” said Kyle Rachels, the Commission’s District 4 fisheries biologist. “The continued flooding in the Cape Fear River prevents us from surveying it. However, we’re encouraged by the results in the Northeast Cape Fear, and suspect the populations in the Cape Fear are similar.”

Although spawning populations for most species will be low next spring, in the absence of competition and predation, it is not unusual to see successful

reproduction following fish kill events, Rachels added.

“Because, it takes five to seven years or more for some species to naturally recover to pre-hurricane levels, we will supplement populations by stocking white catfish, channel catfish, redbreast sunfish and largemouth bass in many of our southeastern rivers next summer,” Rachels said.

Stocking rates and locations will be recommended based on additional surveys conducted in spring 2019 to determine adult abundance.

Fish produced for stocking will be released during the early summer in most cases.

Staff biologists will conduct follow-up surveys in the affected rivers during the fall of 2019 to document natural recruitment and survival of stocked fingerlings.

“On a positive note, the American shad (or white shad as they are commonly called) run in the Cape Fear River is expected to be good again this spring as adults in this migratory population were in the Atlantic Ocean during the hurri-

cane’s passage,” Rachels said. “Anglers fishing for American shad generally fish below the three locks and dams in Bladen County during March and April.”

The striped bass population in the Cape Fear was also impacted by Hurricane Florence as many adult fish were present in fish kills especially in the Wilmington area. The Commission’s Watha State Fish Hatchery stocked over 119,000 6-to 8-inch striped bass, weigh-

ing over 20,000 pounds, into the Cape Fear River this month as part of on-going management efforts for this species.

Biologists will continue to monitor population recovery in coastal North Carolina rivers for the next several years. Individuals who want to learn more about fish recovery and the Commission’s stocking efforts in the Coastal Plain can contact Rachels at kyle. rachels@ncwildlife.org.

at 16232 N.C. Hwy. 210. The center is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Closed Sundays and Wednesdays.

The Hampstead Convenience Center is open Mondays through Saturdays 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Sundays 1-7 p.m. The Hampstead center is located at 250 Transfer Station Rd. Christmas trees left in storm-related debris piles will not be accepted by the hurricane debris contractor.

GARBAGE & RECYCLING PICK-UP DATE CHANGE Due to the New Year’s holiday, town wide household garbage and east side recycling will be picked up on Thursday, January 3rd.

BURGAW FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDS VOLUNTEERS Burgaw Fire Department is seeking community members to become volunteer firefighters. We offer excellent training and benefits. Please come by the fire department for more information, 109 N. Walker Street, Burgaw.

The Town of Burgaw is accepting applications for the Planning & Zoning Board.

There is currently one vacancy which requires an applicant that resides within the town limits or a qualified non-resident business or property owner. Applications may be downloaded from our website at www.townofburgaw.com. For more information please contact the Town Clerk at 910-663-3441 or via email at townofburgaw@townofburgaw.com.

FRIDAY DEBRIS PICKUP IS NOT AN EXTRA GARBAGE PICKUP DAY Please remember Friday pickup is for yard debris and bulky items (white goods etc.) only. Many customers are putting out items that could and should be placed in the roll carts on Wednesday. Please put your residential garbage and recycles in the carts for Wednesday pickup. Please do not put your excess residential garbage out on Friday. Public Works will only pick up yard debris and bulky items (white goods etc.) on Friday.

CALENDAR December 31 January 1 January 3 January 8

Blueberry Drop 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Town Offices Closed for New Years Trash pick-up/east side recycling pick-up Board of Commissioners Meeting 4:00 PM

TOWN OF BURGAW Phone 910.259.2151 Fax 910.259.6644 Email: townofburgaw@townofburgaw.com Web: www.townofburgaw.com

Board of Commissioners George R. Brown, Jr., Chairman Archibald “Fred” McCoy, Vice Chairman Jaqueline A. (Jackie) Newton David A. Piepmeyer J. David Williams, Jr.

County Manager Randell K. Woodruff

Town of Surf City Government News December 27, 2018

County Attorney Carl W. “Trey” Thurman, III

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Melissa Long, Clerk to the Board 910-259-1200 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

MEETING TIMES Surf City Town Council 1st Tuesday of the month Planning Board 2nd Thursday of the month _____________________________________________________

Pursuant to NCGS 143-318.12: The Pender County Board of Commissioners hereby provides public notice of a Special Meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 28, 2018.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The sole purpose of the meeting will be to approve the purchase of 102 S. Walker Street, Burgaw. The meeting may be conducted by members participating via telephone. A speakerphone shall be made available in the Board of Commissioners Chambers located at the Pender County Administration Building, 805 S. Walker Street, Burgaw, NC, by which members of the public may listen to the proceedings.

The public will take notice that the Town Council of the Town of Surf City, North Carolina, has called a public hearing at 6:30 pm, or as soon thereafter as possible, on the 2nd of January 2019, at Surf City Town Hall on: • Zoning Text Amendment: Sec. 5.18 Unbuildable Oceanfront Lots:

Questions may be directed to the County Manager’s office by calling 910-259-1200.

Posted and distributed this the 21th day of December 2018.

###

AARP Tax Aide free tax preparation available Appointments are being required this tax season for those who would like their taxes done for free by the trained Tax-Aide volunteers providing this service at the Topsail Senior Center.

Appointments will be offered from 1-5 p.m. each Monday and Wednesday after noon from Feb. 4 through April 15 and may be scheduled by calling the senior center at 270-0708, This AARP sponsored organization prepares and e-files tax retur ns free of charge to individual taxpayers with emphasis

December 27, 2018

VOLUNTEER NEEDED FOR THE PLANNING & ZONING BOARD

Christmas tree disposal T h e Pe n d e r C o u n t y residents may dispose of their Christmas trees at the Rocky Point and Hampstead Convenience Centers for three weeks following Christmas.

“We will accept Christmas trees through Jan. 15,” said Kenny Keel, Pender County Public Utilities director.

Christmas lights and ornaments should be removed from the trees prior to disposal.

The Rocky Point Convenience Center is located

Town of Burgaw Government News

.18

on those individuals in committed to delivering ance coverage, including the low to middle income a high quality service to Forms1095- A, B or C, if aptax brackets and the aged. local citizens who use this plicable, as well as details The Topsail Senior Center service. As stated above, of itemized deductions if is located at 20959 US Hwy this service is provided at applicable.

If the taxpayer has been 17 N in Hampstead. Again, no cost to the taxpayer.

Taxpayers are asked to the beneficiary of forgiven taxpayers are requested to call the Senior Center bring picture ID, social se- credit card debt, or inat 270-0708 for an appoint- curity cards for taxpayers debtedness against their and dependents, all infor- principal residence, they ment.

Tax-Aide is a charitable mation and forms relating should bring any docunon-profit program admin- to their income and the ments received from the istered by the AARP Foun- filing of their income tax lender, including 1099A, dation. It is a free nation- returns, including W-2, and/or 1099C. It is expected wide confidential service. 1099, SSA 1099, broker state- that fewer taxpayers will elect to itemize deductions Tax returns are prepared ments, and a copy of(910) last PO Box 5 – 805 S. Walker Street, Burgaw, NC 28425 259-1200 Office | www.pendercountync.gov and e-filed by volunteers year’s tax return, if avail- this year, as the standard deduction has been subwho are trained and certi- able.

Also information con- stantially increased for all fied in the preparation of tax returns, and who are c e r n i n g h e a l t h i n s u r- taxpayers.

PENDER COUNTY GOVERNMENT NEWS WANTED! A FEW GOOD MEN & WOMEN! VOLUNTEER! The Pender County Board of Commissioners will consider appointments to the following Boards/Commissions/Committees: Name of Board

ABC Board Advisory Board of Health Board of Adjustment Pender Housing Initiative Board Industrial Facilities & Pollution Control Financing Auth.

Library Board Tourism Development Authority District 1 = Upper Topsail; Surf City District 2 = Scotts Hill; Lower Topsail District 3 = Rocky Point; Long Creek

# of Vacancies 1 3 2 2 7 2 2

Positions/Categories District 1 Dentist***, Engineer***, Optometrist*** District 3, District 4 Low Income Rep., Private Sector Rep. Business/Insurance/Attorney/Banking District 3, District 5 District 2

District 4 = Union; Penderlea; Grady; Columbia; Caswell; Canetuck District 5 = Burgaw; Holly

*** These positions can be temporarily filled by someone associated with this field who may not be currently licensed. Applications can be completed on-line at www.pendercountync.gov or write or call Melissa Long, Clerk to the Board, PO Box 5, Burgaw, NC 28425 (910) 259-1200, and complete an application.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS THE PENDER COUNTY PLANNING BOARD WILL HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS AS FOLLOWS: DATE OF HEARINGS:

January 2, 2019

TIME OF HEARINGS:

7:00 p.m.

LOCATION OF HEARINGS:

THE PUBLIC HEARING NOTED WILL BE HELD IN THE PUBLIC MEETING ROOM AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE BUILDING ROOM 145, 805 SOUTH WALKER STREET, BURGAW, N.C. 28425 Zoning Text Amendment Pender County, applicant, is requesting approval of a Zoning Text Amendment to the Pender County Unified Development Ordinance. Specifically, the request is to amend Section 5.2.3 'Table of Permitted Uses’ to allow for Sewage Lift Stations permitted with standards by right in the GB, General Business; IT, Industrial Transitional; and GI, General Industrial zoning districts and permitted with standards via a Special Use Permit or as part of a Master Development Plan in all other districts except EC, Environmental Conservation. The request is also to amend Section 5.3.5 ‘Sewage Treatment Facilities’ to provide additional use standards for Sewage Lift Stations. A detailed description of the proposed changes is available in the Pender County Planning and Community Development Department Offices.

Master Development Plan Revision and Preliminary Plat approval Signature Top Sail NC, Ltd. applicant, on behalf of Capstone Ventures LLC., and Ruth C. Kalmar Lewis et al, owners, is requesting a revision to the previously approved Master Development Plan for the mixed-use development known as Wyndwater. Specifically, this request is to increase the overall project area from ± 221.90 acres to 234.12 acres and to add phases 8 and 9 for Preliminary Plat approval. The subject properties are zoned PD, Planned Development zoning district. The properties are located to the east of US HWY 17 north of Doral Drive (SR 1693), northwest of Sloop Point Loop Road (SR 1563), south and east of the Cardinal Acres Lane (private) in the Topsail Township. The properties may be further identified by Pender County PIN(s): 4214-13-4701-0000, 4214-22-4269-0000, 4214-22-4164-0000, 4214-22-4048-0000, and 4214-22-5196-0000.

For Additional Information: Contact Pender County Planning & Community Development 805 S Walker St Burgaw, NC 28425 Phone 910-259-1202

Unbuildable Oceanfront Lots

5.18.1 Compliance. Decks and crossovers shall be permitted provided that they meet all state, federal and the following local requirements: 5.18.2 Permit required. A deck or crossover shall not be permitted until a zoning permit and building permit have been approved.

5.18.3 Size. All decks and crossovers are limited to a single level.

Uncovered decks are limited to 500 square feet, with a maximum of 200 sq. foot being covered.

5.18.4 Parking. A 24 foot wide access driveway may be constructed for the owner's access to the deck or crosswalk.

5.18.5 Uses. Property may not be used for construction of pools, overnight stays, RV hook-ups, or any commercial uses.

5.18.6 Addressing. Addresses shall be posted on the street side and the Oceanside of any deck structure.

5.18.6 Lighting. All lighting shall be located on the interior rails of the decking or under a roof structure. No lighting shall shine directly onto the beachfront.

Unbuildable Oceanfront Lot: Any lot that does not allow for the construction of a single family home under the CAMA regulations.

12/27/2018 REQUST FOR PROPOSALS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Notice is hereby given that proposals will be received by Pender County, North Carolina, until 5:00 P.M. EST, Friday, January 11, 2019, for the following Professional Services to be provided to said jurisdiction: HURRICANE FLORENCE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM (HMGP)/ FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE (FMA) PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES Project Summary: Pender County suffered significant damage to residential housing during Hurricane Florence in September 2018. The county is soliciting turnkey professional planning and project management services required to undertake the following activities: 1) Submit Letters of Interest and applications for, and manage, proposed Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) elevation, reconstruction, and acquisition activities for all federally declared disasters and annual FMA application cycles occurring prior to December 1, 2021. These activities are to be conducted with FEMA funds pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act, the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, and the State of North Carolina’s Flood Mitigation Administrative Plan, as administered by the NC Division of Emergency Management.

Upon selection of a qualified consultant(s), Pender County will enter into contractual agreements with the consultant(s), based upon the planning and management needs to be determined by the county and the prospective funding agencies.

Following contract negotiations with the planning and management consultant, the county plans to undertake a similar effort to procure professional engineering services required for the elevation and reconstruction components of HMGP/FMA projects.

This is not a request for professional engineering services.

The contact for this project is: Kyle M. Breuer, AICP, Director Planning and Community Development 805 S. Walker Street PO Box 1519 Burgaw, NC 28425 (910) 259-1202 / kbreuer@pendercountync.gov Each proposer must submit complete proposals in the format provided in the RFP. Proposals must be in a sealed envelope and clearly marked "HURRICANE FLORENCE HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM AND FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE, PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES - SPECIAL PROJECT RFP" in the lower left corner of the envelope. Mailed, delivered, or e-mailed proposals must be received by no later than 5:00 P.M. EST, Friday, January 11, 2019, to be considered.

Proposals will be rated by the County staff prior to recommendation of an award of any contract. Procurement of planning/management firms will be accomplished in accordance with 2CFR200 and the North Carolina General Statutes relating to procurement of professional services.

A hard-copy of the Request for Proposals is available at the Planning and Community Development offices at 805 S. Walker Street, Burgaw, NC 28425 or may be found on the County’s website at: www.pendercountync.gov For Additional Information: Contact Pender County Planning Dept. 805 S Walker St Burgaw NC 28425 Phone 910-259-1202

NOTICE OF HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURES

Pender County Government Offices will be closed on the following dates in observance of the New Year’s Holiday: Tuesday, January 1, 2019

www.pendercountync.gov

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 10A

Legal Notices STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF PENDER EXECUTOR’S NOTICE The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the Estate of William Joseph Schwenzer, deceased, late of Pender County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 15th day of March, 2019 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 5th day of December, 2018.

William Jason Schwenzer Executor of the Estate of William Joseph Schwenzer c/o Charles T. Busby Attorney at Law P.O. Box 818 Hampstead, NC 28443-0818 #8439 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2018, 1/3/2019 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Faye C. Allen, late of 507 E. Fremont Street, Burgaw, N.C., Pender County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at Post Office Box 625, 107 East Fremont Street, Burgaw, N.C. 28425 on or before the 6th day of March, 2019 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 13th day of December, 2018.

John Lewis Allen, Jr., Executor of the Estate of Faye C. Allen Zachary S. Rivenbark, Attorney at Law PO Box 625, Burgaw, N.C. 28425 #8438 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2018, 1/3/2019 NORTH CAROLINA PENDER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Linda L. Hayes, having qualified on the 26th day of November, 2018, as Administrator of the Estate of Emma Christine Glover (2018-E-445), deceased, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to the undersigned at DAVID E. ANDERSON, PLLC, 9111 Market Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 11th day of March, 2019, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address.This 6th day of

December, 2018.

Linda L. Hayes Administrator ESTATE OF EMMA CHRISTINE GLOVER David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411

#8434 12/6, 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2018

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, PENDER COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION Having qualified as Executor of the estate of Edith B. Cobb, deceased, of Pender County, this is to notify all persons having claims against the estate of said decedent, Edith B. Cobb, to present them to the undersigned on or before March 14, 2019 at 176 Bayshore Drive, Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 or be barred from recovery. All persons indebted to said estate, please make immediate payment.

This the 13th day of December, 2018.

Rickey L. Cobb 176 Bayshore Drive Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 #8435 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2018, 1/3/2019 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF PENDER IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 18 SP 83 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE In the Matter of the Foreclosure of the Deed of Trust of Ralph Lee Register, Mortgagor-Grantor To Anthony L. Register, Substitute Trustee, And Mark A. Smith, successor in interest to Lester E. Smith, deceased, and wife, Annette M. Smith, deceased Noteholder As recorded in Deed of Trust Book 2941, Page 079.

Under and by virtue of an Order made and entered by the Clerk of Court, Office of the Clerk of Superior Court of Pender County, North Carolina, on the 14th day of August, 2018, and the power of sale contained in that certain deed of trust from Ralph Lee Register to Fuss Law Firm, PC, Trustee, for Lester E. Smith and wife, Annette M. Smith, Beneficiary, recorded in Book 2941 at Page 79 in the Pender County, North Carolina, Registry, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the Courthouse door of the Pender County Judicial Building, Burgaw, North Carolina, at 11:00 a.m. on the 3rd day of January, 2019, the real estate conveyed in said deed of trust, the same lying and being in Pender County, North Carolina, and more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lots No. 13 and 14 according to a map entitled “Survey Sketch for C. Heide Trask, Jr.” prepared by Milton R. Walton, Jr., a copy of which was attached to deed from Nell H. Trask (widow) to Stephen Robinson and wife, Georgie Mae

Legal Notices Legal Notices Legal Notices Legal Notices Legal Notices Robinson recorded in Book 509, Page 61, Pender County Registry.

The record owner of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds of Pender County, is Ralph Lee Register, deceased. The heirs of Ralph Lee Register, whose ownership interests are not reflected in the public records of Pender County are: Kenneth Register 101 Lambs Court Wilmington, NC 28412 Donald Register PO Box 11319 Wilmington, NC 28404 Jeffrey Dent 215 South Taylor St. Fallon, NV 89406 Dorothy McCormick 4722 Ilex Drive Wilmington, NC 28412 Terri Dent Ritter 315 Simon Blvd Dr. Henderson, NV 89014 Christine Dent McIntyre 1793 Scenic Avenue Freeland, WA 98249 Melody Dent 11707 Pierce Court Fredericksburg, VA 22407 Teressa Lemoine 11304 Patrick Henry Dr. Fredericksburg, VA 22407 Mark Smith 3999 42nd Street N St. Petersburg, FL 33714 Cassandra Dent 11707 Pierce Court Fredericksburg, VA 22407 Laura Dent Hitt 7327 Bell Drive Spotsylvania, PA 22551 The successful bidder will be required to deposit with the undersigned Substitute Trustee a cash deposit of the greater of Five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), and the sale will remain open for ten (10) days for advanced or raised bids.

The above-described property will be sold subject to unpaid County and City ad valorem taxes, and also special assessments, if any.

An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of Pender County. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days’ written notice to the landlord. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

Dated: November 27, 2018 /s/ Anthony L. Register Anthony L. Register Substitute Trustee 701 North Fourth Street Wilmington, North Carolina 28401 Telephone: (910) 251-0103 #8436 12/20, 12/27/2018 EXECUTOR’S NOTICE Having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of John Gary Giddeons, deceased, late of Pender County, North Carolina, this is to notify that all persons having claims against the said estate to present such claims to the undersigned on or before the 14th day of March, 2019, or this notice will be placed in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment.

This 13th day of December, 2018.

Dawn Michelle Ingram Giddeons 3686 Crooked Run Road Willard, NC 28478 Robert C. Kenan, Jr. MOORE & KENAN Attorneys at Law P. O. Box 957 Burgaw, NC 28425 (910) 259-9800 #8437 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2018, 1/3/2019 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF PENDER IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION COURT FILE #: 18-CVS-417 PENDER COUNTY and TOWN OF BURGAW Plaintiff(s), v.

JEFFREY E. JAMES, owner et. al.

Defendant(s).

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION TO: JEFFREY E. JAMES Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-titled action.

The nature of the relief sought is as follows: foreclosure sale to satisfy unpaid property taxes on your interest in the property sometimes briefly described as 1.88 acres, Parcel ID Number 3229-73-7817-0000 more fully described in the complaint.

Plaintiff seeks to extinguish any and all claim or interest that you may have in the property.

You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than February 4, 2019.

This day, December 10, 2018.

Scott G. Sherman, State Bar # 17596 Richard T. Rodgers, Jr., State Bar # 28777 ProTax, A Division of Sherman & Rodgers, PLLC PO Box 250; Burgaw, NC 28425 910-259-2615 (tel/fax); tammy@shermanandrodgers.com #8441 12/20, 12/27/2018, 1/3/2019 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA PENDER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF WILLIAM HENRY PRUITT 18 E 551 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against William Henry Pruitt, deceased, are notified to exhibit them to David Lee Pruitt, Executor of the decedent’s estate, on or before March 21, 2019 at 102 Brannon Court, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, or be barred from their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment to the above named Executor.

David Lee Pruitt, Executor Estate of William Henry Pruitt c/o Mark I. Nunalee BIBERSTEIN & NUNALEE LLP Attorneys at Law P.O. Box 598 Hampstead NC 28443 910-270-4347 #8447 12/20, 12/27/2018, 1/3, 1/10/2019

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF PENDER IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION COURT FILE #: 18-CVS-417 PENDER COUNTY and TOWN OF BURGAW Plaintiff(s), v.

JEFFREY E. JAMES, owner et. al.

Defendant(s).

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION TO: UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF JEFFREY E. JAMES Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-titled action.

The nature of the relief sought is as follows: foreclosure sale to satisfy unpaid property taxes on your interest in the property sometimes briefly described as 1.88 acres, Parcel ID Number 3229-73-7817-0000 more fully described in the complaint.

Plaintiff seeks to extinguish any and all claim or interest that you may have in the property.

You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than February 4, 2019.

This day, December 10, 2018.

Scott G. Sherman, State Bar # 17596 Richard T. Rodgers, Jr., State Bar # 28777 ProTax, A Division of Sherman & Rodgers, PLLC PO Box 250; Burgaw, NC 28425 910-259-2615 (tel/fax); tammy@shermanandrodgers.com #8442 12/20, 12/27/2018, 1/3/2019 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF PENDER IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION COURT FILE #: 18-CVS-1131 PENDER COUNTY Plaintiff(s), v.

UNKNOWN HEIRS AND/OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST TO ADRIAN ARMSTRONG, owner et. al.

Defendant(s).

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION TO: UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF JUANITA CLOYD Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-titled action.

The nature of the relief sought is as follows: foreclosure sale to satisfy unpaid property taxes on your interest in the property sometimes briefly described as 9.1 acres, Parcel ID Number 3247-76-5601-0000 more fully described in the complaint.

Plaintiff seeks to extinguish any and all claim or interest that you may have in the property.

You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than February 4, 2019.

This day, December 12, 2018.

Scott G. Sherman, State Bar # 17596 Richard T. Rodgers, Jr., State Bar # 28777 ProTax, A Division of Sherman & Rodgers, PLLC PO Box 250; Burgaw, NC 28425 910-259-2615 (tel/fax); tammy@shermanandrodgers.com #8443 12/20, 12/27/2018, 1/3/2019 NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF RICHARD VON BIBERSTEIN, JR. 18 E 513 Having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of Richard von Biberstein, Jr., deceased of Pender County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 20th day of March, 2019, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms and corporation indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 20th day of December, 2018.

Barbara Russell von Biberstein Nichols Executrix of the Estate of Richard von Biberstein, Jr. c/o Lawrence S. Boehling Attorney at Law P.O. Box 1416 Burgaw, NC 28425 910-259-3334 #8449 12/20, 12/27/2018, 1/3, 1/10/2019 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF PENDER IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION COURT FILE #: 18-CVS-1131 PENDER COUNTY Plaintiff(s), v.

UNKNOWN HEIRS AND/OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST TO ADRIAN ARMSTRONG, owner et. al.

Defendant(s).

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION TO: JUANITA CLOYD Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-titled action.

The nature of the relief sought is as follows: foreclosure sale to satisfy unpaid property taxes on your interest in the property sometimes briefly described as 9.1 acres, Parcel ID Number 3247-76-5601-0000 more fully described in the complaint.

Plaintiff seeks to extinguish any and all claim or interest that you may have in the property.

You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than February 4, 2019.

This day, December 12, 2018.

Scott G. Sherman, State Bar # 17596 Richard T. Rodgers, Jr., State Bar # 28777 ProTax, A Division of Sherman & Rodgers, PLLC PO Box 250; Burgaw, NC 28425 910-259-2615 (tel/fax); tammy@shermanandrodgers.com #8444 12/20, 12/27/2018, 1/3/2019

Advertise Today!

Call 910.259.9111

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Fay Blanton Powell also known as Virginia Fay Powell, late of 4780 Englishtown Road, Wallace, N.C., Pender County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at Post Office Box 625, 107 East Fremont Street, Burgaw, N.C. 28425 on or before the 13th day of March, 2018 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 13th day of December, 2018.

Zachary S. Rivenbark, Administrator of the Estate of Fay Blanton Powell Zachary S. Rivenbark, Attorney at Law PO Box 625, Burgaw, N.C. 28425 #8451 12/20, 12/27/2018, 1/3, 1/10/2019 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF PENDER IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION COURT FILE #: 18-CVS-1131 PENDER COUNTY Plaintiff(s), v.

UNKNOWN HEIRS AND/OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST TO ADRIAN ARMSTRONG, owner et. al.

Defendant(s).

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION TO: UNKNOWN HEIRS AND/OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST TO MARY E. GUNN Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-titled action.

The nature of the relief sought is as follows: foreclosure sale to satisfy unpaid property taxes on your interest in the property sometimes briefly described as 9.1 acres, Parcel ID Number 3247-76-5601-0000 more fully described in the complaint.

Plaintiff seeks to extinguish any and all claim or interest that you may have in the property.

You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than February 4, 2019.

This day, December 12, 2018.

Scott G. Sherman, State Bar # 17596 Richard T. Rodgers, Jr., State Bar # 28777 ProTax, A Division of Sherman & Rodgers, PLLC PO Box 250; Burgaw, NC 28425 910-259-2615 (tel/fax); tammy@shermanandrodgers.com #8445 12/20, 12/27/2018, 1/3/2019 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF PENDER IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION COURT FILE #: 18-CVS-1131 PENDER COUNTY Plaintiff(s), v.

UNKNOWN HEIRS AND/OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST TO ADRIAN ARMSTRONG, owner et. al.

Defendant(s).

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION TO: UNKNOWN HEIRS AND/OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST TO ADRIAN ARMSTRONG Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-titled action.

The nature of the relief sought is as follows: foreclosure sale to satisfy unpaid property taxes on your interest in the property sometimes briefly described as 9.1 acres, Parcel ID Number 3247-76-5601-0000 more fully described in the complaint.

Plaintiff seeks to extinguish any and all claim or interest that you may have in the property.

You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than February 4, 2019.

This day, December 12, 2018.

Scott G. Sherman, State Bar # 17596 Richard T. Rodgers, Jr., State Bar # 28777 ProTax, A Division of Sherman & Rodgers, PLLC PO Box 250; Burgaw, NC 28425 910-259-2615 (tel/fax); tammy@shermanandrodgers.com #8446 12/20, 12/27/2018, 1/3/2019 NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, PENDER COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION Having qualified as Administrator of the estate of Thomas Allen Hand, Sr., deceased, of Pender County, this is to notify all persons having claims against the estate of said decedent, Thomas Allen Hand, Sr., to present them to the undersigned on or before March 28, 2019 at 2461 Whitestocking Road, Burgaw, NC 28425 or be barred from recovery. All persons indebted to said estate, please make immediate payment.

This the 20th day of December, 2018.

Jacquelyn Corbett Hand 2461 Whitestocking Road Burgaw, NC 28425 #8450 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2018, 1/3/2019

Our deadline for News & Advertising is Noon on Friday.

17 SP 225 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, PENDER COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Carl T. Murrell and Tammy M. Murrell to Jeffery L. Tuttle, Trustee(s), which was dated November 2, 1999 and recorded on November 3, 1999 in Book 1526 at Page 297 and rerecorded/modified/corrected on May 6, 2015 in Book 4575, Page 135 and rerecorded/modified/corrected on April 5, 2016 in Book 4617, Page 2034, Pender County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 8, 2019 at 11:30AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Pender County, North Carolina, to wit: LOCATED IN LONG CREEK TOWNSHIP, PENDER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, ADJACENT TO AND NORTH OF SECONDARY ROAD #1427 AND BEING MORE FULLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS, TO WIT: BEGINNING AT A RAILROAD SPIKE IN THE PAVED CENTERLINE OF SECONDARY ROAD #1427, SAID SPIKE BEING LOCATED ALONG SAID ROAD CENTERLINE AT A POINT THAT IS THE FOLLOWING COURSES AND DISTANCES FROM AN OLD NAIL LOCATED IN SAID ROAD CENTERLINE AND DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CENTER OF A LARGE METAL CULVERT THAT ACCOMMODATES THE WATERS OF LEWIS BRANCH BENEATH THE ROADWAY: SOUTH 51 DEGREES 33’ WEST 269.32 FEET, SOUTH 66 DEGREES 06’ WEST 201.32 FEET, SOUTH 77 DEGREES 28’ WEST 189.31 FEET, SOUTH 85 DEGREES 45’ WEST 100.00 FEET, SOUTH 87 DEGREES 08’ WEST 718.60 FEET, SOUTH 87 DEGREES 04’ 15” WEST 412.30 FEET, SOUTH 87 DEGREES 06’ 21” WEST 850.12 FEET AND SOUTH 78 DEGREES 05’ 09” WEST 498.30 FEET TO THE BEGINNING; AND RUNNING THENCE, FROM THE BEGINNING, SO LOCATED, WITH THE PAVED CENTERLINE OF SECONDARY ROAD #1427 SOUTH 78 DEGREES 05’ 09” WEST 204.28 FEET TO A NAIL AND CAP AT THE BEGINNING OF A CURVE IN SAID ROADWAY; THENCE, CONTINUING WITH SAID ROADWAY AS IT CURVES TO THE LEFT A CHORD COURSE AND DISTANCE OF SOUTH 76 DEGREES 23’ 18” WEST 112.50 FEET TO A NAIL AND CAP INLINE; THENCE, SOUTH 77 DEGREES 00’ 09” WEST 106.20 FEET TO AN OLD “R.F.M.” STONE UNDER THE PAVED PORTION OF SAID ROAD; THENCE, NORTH 51 DEGREES 54’ 21” WEST 449.68 FEET (PASSING OVER AN INLINE IRON PIPE AT 44.5 FEET) TO AN OLD “R.F.M.” STONE; THENCE, NORTH 52 DEGREES 11’ 21” EAST 568.90 FEET TO AN OLD “R.F.M.” STONE ON THE NORTHERN EDGE OF AN OLD ROAD; THENCE, NORTH 21 DEGREES 46’ 33” EAST 790.97 FEET TO AN OLD “R.F.M.” STONE INLINE; THENCE, TO AND WITH THE RUN OF LEWIS BRANCH AS IT MEANDERS IN AN EASTWARDLY DIRECTION WITH THE FOLLOWING BEING TRAVERSE COURSES AND DISTANCES FROM POINT TO POINT ALONG OR NEAR SAID RUN: NORTH 87 DEGREES 54’ 24” EAST 115.0 FEET AND SOUTH 61 DEGREES 19’ 12” EAST 92.32 FEET TO AN OLD LIGHTWOOD STAKE ON THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF SAID RUN; THENCE, SOUTH 19 DEGREES 59’ 50” WEST 822.56 FEET TO AN OLD IRON PIPE INLINE; THENCE, SOUTH 13 DEGREES 27’ 18” EAST 467.80 FEET (PASSING OVER AN INLINE IRON PIPE AT 434.4 FEET) TO THE BEGINNING, CONTAINING 10.34 ACRES MORE OR LESS AFTER THE EXCLUSION OF THAT PORTION OF SECONDARY ROAD #1427 (60 FOOT RIGHT OF WAY) CONTAINED WITHIN THE ABOVE DESCRIBED BOUNDARIES AND IS AS SURVEYED BY THOMPSON SURVEYING COMPANY, P. A. OF BURGAW, N. C. IN APRIL 1987.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 1216 Clarks Landing Loop Road, Rocky Point, NC 28457.

A cash deposit (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Carl T. Murrell and wife, Tammy B. Murrell.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)].

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 17-15743-FC01 #8455 12/27/2018, 1/3/2019 State of North Carolina County of PENDER IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO.: 18 E 567 In the Matter of the Estate of CAROL B. FREAS, JR. Deceased.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NANCY FREAS, having qualified as EXECUTOR of the Estate of CAROL B. FREAS, JR deceased, hereby notifies all persons, firms or corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit same to the said Nancy Freas at the address below on or before March 27th, 2019), or this Notice may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of same. All persons indebted to said decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below.

This is the 27th day of December, 2018.

NANCY FREAS, EXECUTOR Estate of CAROL B. FREAS c/o KINCAID & ASSOC., PLLC 5215 Junction Circle, Suite 100 Wilmington, NC 28412 #8458 12/27/2018, 1/3, 1/10, 1/17/2019

Subscribe Today!

910.259.9111

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 11A

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

Classifieds HELP WANTED

SERVICES

CNA’S NEEDED We are hiring for the Pender County area. Please contact the Nurse Aide Office at 910-259-9119, option 2. 6/8/2017

CARPENTRY & RENOVATIONS Home Improvements & home repairs inside & out including: Carpentry, tile, drywall, painting, flooring, docks, pressure washing, deck railing. All small jobs are welcome!! Call 910-934-3937 for free estimates, ask for Robert.6/7-9/6/2108 (P) (E)

(TFN) (PAS)

26 temporary horticultural workers needed for nursery work near Willard, North Carolina, for Johnson Nursery Corporation with work beginning on or about 02/04/2019 and ending on or about 11/30/2019. The job offered is for a skilled nursery worker and requires minimum 3 months verifiable nursery work experience (Horticultural Worker I). The minimum offered wage rate that workers will be paid is $12.25 per hour. Workers must commit to work the entire contract period. Workers are guaranteed work for 3/4 of the contract period, beginning with the first day the worker arrives at the place of employment. All work tools, supplies and equipment are provided at no cost to the worker. Housing will be provided to those workers who cannot reasonably return to their permanent residence at the end of each working day. Transportation and subsistence will be provided by the employer upon completion of 50% of the work contract, or earlier, to workers who are recruited outside the area of intended employment. Applicants must provide documentation that they are eligible legally to work in the United States.

Applicants should report or send resumes to NCWorks Career Center – Pender County, 904-A S. Walker St., Burgaw, NC 28425, (910) 259-0240, or the nearest local office of their State Workforce Agency, and reference job order #NC10990455. EOE. H-300-18331-911702.

36 temporary farmworkers needed for common field labor in strawberries, blueberries, blackberries in Pender County, North Carolina, for Lewis Nursery & Farms, Inc. with work beginning on or about 02/01/2019 and ending on or about 08/14/2019. The job offered is for an experienced farmworker and requires minimum 1 month verifiable work experience pruning field-grown blueberry plants. The minimum offered wage rate that workers will be paid is $12.25 per hour and piece rates may be offered depending on crop activity. Workers must commit to work the entire contract period. Workers are guaranteed work for 3/4 of the contract period, beginning with the first day the worker arrives at the place of employment. All work tools, supplies and equipment are provided at no cost to the worker. Housing will be provided to those workers who cannot reasonably return to their permanent residence at the end of each working day. Transportation and subsistence will be provided by the employer upon completion of 50% of the work contract, or earlier, to workers who are recruited outside the area of intended employment.

Applicants must provide documentation that they are eligible legally to work in the United States. Applicants should report or send resumes to NCWorks Career Center - Pender County, 904-A S. Walker St. Burgaw, NC 28425, (910) 259-0240, or the nearest local office of their State Workforce Agency and reference job order #NC10993609. EOE. H-300-18338-713843.

602-E U.S. 117, Burgaw, NC 28425 Pender Landing Shopping Center, Next to Subway

910.259.7156 Website: www.serealestate.net Rentals: www.serealestate.us

We are the Key to Your New Home! Vicki Foster

19896 NC 53 Kelly $186,200 Roomy 2400 square foot home that has not been completed. Great DIY project. Rough ins completed. Sheet rock purchased and sitting in home. See materials list to finish the home under documents. Solid mahogany front door. Make this your dream home with your personal touches. Sellers have also redone the survey. Priced right. Come take a look!! 2008 HVAC .

Lookin’ for Love...

Merry Christmas!

My name is Gabby.

I turned 4 months old on December 1st. I am a beautiful silver tabby. Everyone says I am a sweetheart. When I was a baby, I got an eye infection that would not clear up.

I will soon have my left eye removed and my shelter family will pay for the surgery. After that, I‛ll be in perfect health! I get along with the other cats here and I love everyone I meet but I really would like a family of my own. Please come visit me over the holidays!

Can you help make my dream come true?

Find an adoption form at www.penderhumane.org or call us at 910-259-7022 and Please LIKE us at Facebook.com/ PenderCountyHumaneSociety

Pender Master Gardeners plan program on weed control Jan. 10 The NC State Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, Pender County Speakers Bureau is offering an informative and timely class titled Grasses and Weed Control. Join us Jan. 10 at the Pender County Exten-

sion Center, 801 S. Walker St, Burgaw from 11 a.m. until noon and learn how to care for your grass and identify, treat, and control those pesky weeds in your lawn.

In the class you will ex-

News

in the new budget.

County approv es background checks for volunteers Pender County will now have the option of running criminal background checks on individuals volunteering with county departments. Commissioners approved a measure at the request of the Agricultural Extension Service to run the checks on summer employees working with the service.

Prior to this, background check were only run on potential county employees.

Sunday voting in Pender County The N.C. State Board of Elections ruled Aug. 5 that Pender County, along with several other counties, will offer voting Sunday Oct. 28. Pender County’s Sunday voting hours will be from noon until 5 p.m. The state board met Sunday in Winston-Salem ahead of the statewide gathering of local and state election officials. It set early voting plans, nailing down locations and hours, for 15 counties around the state.

N e w S u r f C i t y S ch o o l opens The new Surf City Elementary and Middle schools opened Aug. 23 with an open house for all

Continued from page 1A county. All county properties that are accessible from a public right-of-way are imaged. The tax office also uses aerial photos from USGS along with information from previous revaluations.

Pender County property owners will see the results of the revaluation in notices received in February 2019.

June-August Commissioners approve new budget Pender County Commissioners gave approval to the proposed 2018-19 county budget . The general fund budget totals $63.5 million including all county funds outside the general fund.

The new budget represents an increase over last year’s figure, but economic growth resulting in rising revenue for the county kept the tax rate unchanged despite the increase.

The new budget includes a two percent cost of living raise for county staff, as well as a two percent increase in 401K contributions for county employees.

A $2.8 million increase in funding for schools is also

License Continued from page 2A have to buy an E-stamp for bear,” he said. “You still must have your federal endorsements for waterfowl, but the basic oprivlege of hunting doesn’t require a license.”

Tags are available for free to exempt individuals, Pipkin said.

“If you go to your local agent, you might have to pay a $2 ‘paper’ fee,” he said.

“You can apply online and receive the tags through the mail.”

State law allows a primary landowner, his or her spouse, and immediate dependents to hunt on their land without a regular license, but all hunting seasons and regulations apply. Residential tenants or people who lease land for other purposes are required to have a license.

“We have grown adults saying, ‘I’m hunting my dad’s land, and I don’t need a license’,” Pipkin said. “Un-

less you live there, you need a license if you’re not living under the same roof.”

Active duty military who can prove they are state residents home on leave from deployments outside the state are also license exempt, Pipkin said, but the sportsman must have proof of deployment and leave.

Another point of confusion for some hunters involves children under the age of 16, Pipkin said. While a license is not required for young sportsmen in the company of a licensed adult, youth who have completed a hunter safety certification course and have proof of their certification do not need a chaperone or an adult.

“These days we have a lot of people buying licenses as gifts for even small children,” Pipkin said, “but sometimes it comes up.”

Young hunters can also get free tags for big game, he said, but must purchase an E-Stamp before harvesting bears.

Reduced rate licenses are also available for disabled

plore tools and resources you can use to identify your weed, select an appropriate and effective method of control, and steps you can take to minimize the chance of them returning to your yard.

Tyler Norris recently participated in the Julius Sigler Scholarship Competition at University of Lynchburg, Virginia’s most comprehensive private college. Nationally recognized for going above and beyond for student success, the scholarship competition was held to recognize the achievements of students who excel in the University of Lynchburg traditions of scholarship, leadership, and community service. Norris, who has been accepted to the University of Lynchburg, was one of more than 250 students competing for outstanding scholarships through essay writing and interviews with faculty and staff members. Norris was one of the students awarded the Julius Sigler Scholarship as well as University of Lynchburg Founder’s Scholarship. Norris is a senior at Pender High School and is the son of Lee and Amy Norris of Burgaw.

Pictured above are University President Dr. Ken Garren, and Norris. to have a look at the new facility. A ribbon cutting was held in the morning, with Surf City Mayor Doug Medlin doing the honors.

The new school is part of

the $75 school bond passed

by Pender County voters in 2014, which included two new schools, Surf City and Penderlea.

veterans and people with disabilities, he said.

“You can find all the information about that online, or call the licensing division in Raleigh,” he explained.

License fees make up the bulk of the Wildlife Resources Commission budget. The agency receives so me funding for research, safety, education and enforcement from the General Assembly’s budget, but most WRC funding is generated by licenses, privilege fees and other charges.

Court fees for violations do not go to the WRC unless a judge so directs, although replacement costs for endangered and game species do go directly to conservation programs.

Pipkin said officers have no desire to write citations, especially for violations involving licenses.

“I think it’s a fair way to do things,” he said. “It doesn’t infringe on someone’s property rights, but at the same time the license rules don’t leave a lot of room to be abused. Anyone who ever has a question can call the Commissioner, The Pender-Topsail contact your local officer or go online. We’re always happy to help.”

CASH PAID for old milk bottles from BURGAW, WALLACE, ROSE HILL, KENANSVILLE, WILMINGTON and others in Southeastern NC, in good condition---call JIM at (910)791-4871

Broker/REALTOR®

910.337.3671

At Your Service...

POST &Voice BUSINESS DIRECTORY Insurance

A Trusted Choice Agency

Trash Service

Finally, A Local Agency That Has “YOU” In Mind All Lines of Coverage, Commercial & Personal We Enjoy Walk-Ins and Offer Hassel-Free Quotes

pleasantair.com 910.270.3934 910.270.3934 Expires 12/06/16

&

www.facebook.com/PostVoice

WANTED TO BUY

The Pender-Topsail

Call us to schedule your

POST Voice The Pender-Topsail

&

Free duct evaluation-$69.00 FREE Estimate value.

&

Selling or buying a home? I can help!

POST Voice

WE DO DUCT CLEANING Schedule a $79.00 tune-up and receive a

POST Voice

INSPIRING DREAMS FOR 20 YEARS

The Pender-Topsail

Heating & Air

This class is free. For additional information you can find us on Facebook https://www.f acebook. com/penderemgv/ or contact Tim Mathews, Pender County Extension Agent at 259-1235.

100 Main St., Suite One Holly Ridge, NC 28445 (Behind Coastal Bank)

CREW INSURANCE AGENCY Since 1963

910-329-3691

Your ad could be here for only $18 perweek.

Please call 910.259.9111 for more information Subscribe Today!

POST &Voice The Pender-Topsail

Residential Waste & Recycling Service

910.821.1438

- Locally Owned and Operated SERVING HAMPSTEAD AND NOW SERVING ROCKY POINT

Give Us a Call - Let’s Talk Trash

POST Voice The Pender-Topsail

&

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 12A

Beautiful Downtown Burgaw Staff Photos by Katie H. Pettigrew

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 1B

from

Investing in Your Community Now Accepting Short-Term Rehabilitation and Extended Stay Guests

Call or Come by for a Personal Tour.

311 S Campbell St. Burgaw, NC 28425 (910) 259-6007 www.laurelsofpender.com

Pender Sports

Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/PostVoice

Titans beat Bulldogs, fall to Croatan

By Bobby Norris Post & Voice Sports Writer

The object of the game of basketball is to put the ball in the basket. You can throw away all of the statistics such as assists, rebounds and steals. If you can’t put the ball in the basket you will not win.

That was the case last Thursday night when the

Croatan Cougars came to Titan Town. The Titans shot 25.5 percent from the field in dropping a 53-38 decision to the Carteret County squad.

That loss came on the heels of the Titans first Coastal 8 Conference contest of the year, a home game verse Dixon. Unlike

Continued on page 3B Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew

Titan freshman Robert Pridgen takes the ball to the hoop for two.

Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew

Topsail junior guard Jamison Long eyes the defense for an opening.

Topsail beats Jacksonville, equals last season’s win record

By Lee Wagner Post & Voice Sports Writer Two significant things happened for the Topsail boys’ basketball team Thursday night in Hampstead.

First, the Pirates displayed a ton of resilience – and talent – in rebounding from a horrendous comefrom-ahead defeat at Hoggard Tuesday and, second, they improved to 5-4 on the season to equal their win total (5-20) from the 201718 season with 14 regularseason games left on their regular-season schedule.

It’s a start!

Jamison Long (15 points) led a balanced attack that saw five Pirate players hit the double-digit mark in scoring, and the much-maligned defense held the Cardinals to seven first-period points in building a substantial 25-7 lead in an impressive 83-68 victory over Jacksonville in a non-conference game.

“Much better defensively,” Topsail Coach Jamie Rochelle said. “We didn’t know anything about them since this was only their second game because they went to the football championship game, so our thought process was to throw a hard-nosed zone at them to see if they could shoot and, if they could, go man.

“They (Jacksonville) hit a lot in the second half but we did a good job offensively to stay in it. We had five guys in double figures and I don’t know the last time that happened.

As a coach that’s what you want, to see multiple guys in double figures.

“We had some huge efforts, Ryan (Morris) on the boards (six points, 12 rebounds) and James (Stuart) coming in and contributing 12 points, five boards) in a big way. After the way we played late

Continued on page 3B

Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew

Lady Pirate Lauren Caveness finds and opening and heads into the paint.

Hoggard, Jacksonville hand Lady Pirates losses

By Lee Wagner Post & Voice Sports Writer It was a tough week for the Topsail girls’ basketball team as they lost a Mid-Eastern 3A/4A Conference game at alwaystough Hoggard before falling by 15 points to a very good Jacksonville squad.

But if there was a light at the end of the tunnel, the Lady Pirates played a

heck of a lot better the second time against the Lady Cardinals than they did (75-36 loss on Dec. 6) the first time around.

“We knew what we are going up against Thursday, and we’re more prepared,” Topsail Coach Jay Kapiko said before the game. We didn’t show up the last time we played them. Our

Continued on page 3B

Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew

Lady Titan Anisa Lewis drives through the Croatan defense.

Titan ladies edge Dixon

By Bobby Norris Post & Voice Sports Writer The Heide Trask Lady Titans have shown steady improvement under the guidance of second year coach Beth Batchelor. This year the lady Titans have flirted around the .500

mark for the season and came into their first conference game verse Dixon with a 3-4 record. After sophomore Anisa Lewis did her thing and the Lady titan defense held the Lady Bulldogs to a single point

Continued on page 3B

HAMPSTEAD! THIS IS THE SPOT!

DERMATOLOGY - MOHS SURGERY The Beacon Building (Near McDonald's) 14057 Highway 17, Ste. 130, Hampstead SummitCares4U.com 910.794.5355 summitcares4u.com

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 2B

On The Mat

In My Opinion

By Bobby Norris and Lee Wagner Post & Voice Sports Writers Last week was slow with the onset of the holidays. The Topsail grapplers were off. However, both Trask and Pender traveled to Dixon to engage the Bulldogs in a tri-match.

The Titans lost to the Bulldogs 53-34. Jacob Johnson won a decision over his opponent at 138 pounds. All of the other Titan points were from forfeits.

The Titans defeated Pender 39-33. Rogan Heath won at 126 pounds while Kaven Garcia won at 132. Kolby Lanier (160), Zion Cruz(182) and Jasheen Thompson (heavyweight), each earned wins.

The Titans were scheduled to wrestle at South Lenoir at the end of last week. Due to the holiday printing schedule, those results were not available by press time.

Pender gave the Titans everything they could handle in the 39-33 defeat. Tyler Sawyer, Robert Davis, and Darjon Smith earned wins.

Against Dixon, the Patriots were undermanned and fell 54-30. Tyler Sawyer and Alvin Swinson each picked up wins with the other points coming due to forfeits.

The schedule will resume after the holidays. Both Trask and Pender are at the Scorpion Duals Jan. 5.

Topsail is at Ashley Jan. 3.

The Top 8 wrestlers for each week are picked by our sports staff which includes Lee Wagner and myself.

There are several criteria involved. The Post & Voice is your source for high school wrestling in Pender County.

Patriots edge East Carteret 71-69

By Bobby Norris Post & Voice Sports Writer The Pender Patriot men’s varsity basketball team was looking forward to their Coastal 8 Conference opener. After playing their usual tough nonconference slate, they were looking at playing teams in their own wheel house.

Last Tuesday, the Pats hosted an East Carteret team that was off to an unimpressive 1-4 start. What the Pats found was a team that could shoot the basketball and was not afraid of joining the fray inside.

Mariner sophomore Bennie Brooks scored 43 points and came very close to leading the Carteret County team to what would have been considered a huge upset. East fell just short, falling 71-69.

The Pats were in the running mood and began the game on the fast track.

They went up 6-2 but the Mariners would not go away. Brooks and company nailed three treys in a row and went up 11-8. Pender answered each and every run the Mariners made and took a 21-19 lead into the second period.

Junior transfer Jujuan Carr fueled a 14-2 Patriot run to start the second period. Pender went up 35-21 and it appeared that the Patriots were on the verge of running away with the game. East returned the favor with a 9-0 run of their own. Pender held serve and led by five at the half.

East Carteret relied on

As the Christmas and New Year break came into focus, thing slowed down on the athletic front at Topsail High School, with the girls’ and boys’ swim teams joining the basketball squads as the only ones competing last week.

But get ready, the schedule picks up quickly after the calendar turns to 2019. s3WIMMING Last Wednesday brought forth the last swim meet of 2018 with the Pirate boys finishing second (287 pints) behind ever-powerful Hoggard (376), and just ahead of Ashley (264) and New Hanover (186).

Sophomore Chase Davis had a busy meet with a first-place finish (1:53.98) in the 200-yard freestyle and a third-place finish (25.96) in the 50-yard freestyle, along with swimming a leg on the fourth-place (1:5.58)

By Bobby Norris Post & Voice Sports Writer

athletic scholarship. Marie was one of the smart ones. She had excellent grades and was given an academic scholarship as well. She played division one softball and graduated from Appalachian State. She has taught school and is very successful. Without that academic scholarship she may well have had to get a student loan. Most people will tell you that a student loan is the last resort.

If you are a female student-athlete with an eye toward college you will need to keep your grades up and study extra hard.

It really does not matter how good you are on the court or in the field. What really matters is that GPA and SAT score. Without the grades you are just an athlete. Without the student in front of the word athlete you will never make it in college.

I know many young men and women from Pender County that have earned their degree as a student-athlete. They all say the same thing. Make sure that you have the grades. Going into college with an inflated GPA is a recipe for failure. It’s all about the grades.

Top Performers

By Bobby Norris Post & Voice Sports Writer

Staff photo by Bobby Norris

Josef Fullwood battles for the ball with an East Carteret defender. the three in the first half.

In the third period they drove into the lane and found success. The Mariners cut the lead to one at 41-40 before five points in a row by Carr gave the Pats some breathing room going into the final stanza.

Pender stretched the lead to nine on an ally-oop pass and dunk by Carr.

East Carteret would not go away and cut the lead to three points with 3:36 to play.

East cut the lead to one point on two free throws.

Patriot guard Chance Poole made one of two free throws to give the Pats a two point lead. East Car-

teret sophomore Mason Rose had a chance to tie the game with three seconds left. He missed the front end of two foul shots and was forced to miss the second. The Pats rebounded and ended the game.

Jujuan Carr led the Patriots with 27 points.

Khalil Marshall chipped in 17 points and six assists.

Chance Poole scored 12.

Pender’s record stood at 4-5 overall and 1-0 in Coastal 8 play after the win. The Pats were at Southwest Onslow on Friday. Due to the holiday printing schedule, the results were not available at press time.

The Lady Patriots found

Topsail Sports Roundup

By Lee Wagner Post & Voice Sports Writer

Almost every high school athlete dreams of making it big. They hope to get a scholarship and attend college. The dream does not stop there. They want to become the next Michael Jordan or Stef Curry. While I don’t want to discourage anyone who dreams the dream, I want to make sure that these young folk know that no matter how good you are on the court of field, if you don’t do the class work you don’t see the field.

For the female athlete there are very few full athletic scholarships available. Most Universities do not have an abundance of scholarships to offer a volleyball player or a softball player. In fact, if you talk to many of the young ladies from our area that played sports in college they will tell you that they were offered a partial scholarship. The rest was either paid out of their pockets or was paid via student loans.

My old buddy Ron Watson’s daughter Marie was a 4A star in softball. She played at Hoggard and went to the state championship. She was the real deal, a left hander that could throw the softball hard and hit it with power. She did everything well. Marie Watson was a division one prospect for sure.

When it came time for her to decide where she was going to attend college she was offered by several schools. However, like most female athletes, she was offered a partial

200-yard medley relay with junior Nick Gallek, sophomore Trent Butler, and senior Devin Schmitz, and a leg on the fourth-place (1:44.00) 200-yard freestyle relay with juniors Travis Souza and Jonathan Gallagher, and senior Devin Schmitz.

On top of his relay work – which included a fourthplace (4:03.96) with Souza, Schmitz, and junior Devon Taylor in the 400-yard freestyle relay – Gallek was third (2:26.33) in the 200yard freestyle and third (1:13.51) in the 100-yard backstroke.

Freshman teammates Liam McBride (2:16.14) and Bailey MacVaugh (2:22.84), and sophomore Colin Gallagher (2:31.73) were seventh, ninth, and 10th, respectively, in the 200-yard freestyle, Schmitz was sixth (58.65), McBride was eighth (1:00.73), and Souza (1:02.34) were sixth, eighth, and 10th, in order,

in the 100-yard freestyle.

Taylor was fourth (2:28.28) in the 200-yard intermediate medley, junior Jonathan Cooper was sixth (1:00.73) and senior Grant Passmore was seventh (1:10.44) in the 100yard butterfly, MacVaugh was seventh (1:16.80) and sophomore Sean Dougherty was ninth (1:21.30) in the 100-yard backstroke, and Gallaher was 10th (1:23.12) in the 100-yard breaststrok Three other Pirate relay teams did well, with the foursome of Gallagher, Butler, juniors Bradley Kimmel, and Oscar Sessoms finishing fifth (2:03.77) in the 200-yard medley relay, the quartet of Sessoms, McBride, juniors Jace Bean, and Gavin Johnson placing seventh (1:54.36) in the 200yard freestyle relay, and McBride, and fellow fresh-

Continued on page 3B

the going tough against a big and talented East Carteret Mariner team. The Lady Mariners came into the contest with a perfect 5-0 record. They stayed that way, leaving Pender County with a 55-36 win.

The Lady Patriots are now 2-7 overall and 0-1 in Coastal 8 play.

Last week the area high school teams began conference play. They were jockeying for position headed into the holidays.

The Trask wrestling team had a tough week.

Zion Cruz went 1-1 in a tri match with Pender and Dixon as did Jacob Johnson. Pender’s Tyler Sawyer was 2-0 in the meet.

The Pender Patriot men’s basketball team held off East Carteret despite 43 points from Mariner super sophomore Bennie Brooks. Jujuan Carr led the Patriots with 27 points.

Khalil Marshall chipped in 17 points and six assists.

Chance Poole scored 12.

The Lady Patriots lost to a very good East Carteret team. Ratavia Merritt led the Lady Pats.

The Topsail men found the going tough in Mideastern Conference action last week. Derek Gardner and Jamieson Long each scored eight points in a loss to Hoggard. The Pirates beat Jacksonville in nonconference action behind the play of Long(14pts), Fernando Vasquez (12) and James Stewart (12).

The Lady Pirates fell to a very strong Hoggard Lady Viking squad in conference action. Madison Kita led the Pirates with eight points.

Kita led the Pirates in

Continued on page 3B

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 3B

Roundup

Continued from page 2B over, and Ryan King joining forces to finish sixth (4:22.86) in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

The Lady Prates finished fourth (213) behind Hoggard (354), Ashley (260), and New Hanover (258).

Top efforts came from junior Madison Hoover with a second (2:05.8) in the 200-

Trask

Continued from page 1B the Croatan game, the Titans shot the ball well in taking a 57-52 win over the Onslow County Bulldogs.

Dixon came into the game with a 5-3 record including a conference win over Lejeune. The Titans were looking to open their conference slate with a

Lady Titans

Continued from page 1B in the second period, their record went to 4-4 with a 1-0 Coastal 8 Conference mark.

Two days later the lady Titans had the Croatan

Lady Pirates

Continued from page 1B message is, ‘Show up.’”

Show up they did with Madison Kita (10 points) and Julia Sullivan (nine points, four rebounds, four steals, blocked shot) spearheading a valiant effort that still left them on the short end of a 51-36 defeat at the hands of talented Jacksonville Thursday in Hampstead.

“We had a much better effort, and we did a better job against their traps and defense,” Kapiko said.

“We still had some careless turnovers (22), but I’m not disappointed in their effort. The girls played really hard.

Topsail Continued from page 1B against Hoggard the guys responded and came out strong.

None stronger than Fernando Vasquez, who came off the bench to score 12 points with three rebounds and four assists. Vasquez had six of his 12 points in helping the Pirates establish the 18-point, firstperiod lead, and four of his 12 in the fourth period to help the Pirates hold off a late charge by the Cardinals (1-1).

“We came out with the mindset strong in the first half offensively, and to play strong defense,” Vaquez

Cruz having a great year on Trask mat

By Bobby Norris Post & Voice Sports Writer During the early part of the high school football season Zion Cruz seemed to be learning on the job. He was thrown into the backfield out of necessity.

After football season.

Mr. Cruz donned a wrestling singlet and went to work. After just a couple of weeks, he has become a force to be reckoned with.

After winning his first few matches with ease, Zion has found that the Titans competitors are reluctant to put someone on the mat against him. At the recent Titan duals he received three forfeits.

Titan Head Coach Chris Johnson says Zions improvement has come with mat time and maturity. “In the past he would make a mistake and get put on his back. Now he realizes the mistake before he does it.”

Zion Cruz is on his way to a g reat senior season on the mat.

yard freestyle and a fourth (26.75) in the 50-yard freestyle, to go along with legs on the second-place 200-yard medley relay (2:04.90) with juniors Tihani Contreras and Hannah Spillane, and senior Delaney Popella, and on the second-place (1:52.80) 200-yard freestyle relay with Contreras, Popella, and Spillane.

Contreras finished third (1:08.06) in the 100-yad backstroke and fifth (59.88) in the 50-yard freestyle and Popel-

la was second (1:13.93) in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Freshman Alexius Knudsen was sixth (7:59.39) in the 500-yard freestyle and eighth (1:39.84) in the 100yard butterfly, and swam with seniors Lizzie Cooper and Anna Miller, and sophomore Teagan Hubbard to finish sixth (2:34.57) in the 200-yard medley relay, and with Cooper, Spillane, and Miller in a fifth-place finish (5:13.33) in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Miller was sixth (1:23.69) in the 100-yarxd breaststroke, and Cooper, Hibbard, freshman Tori Johnson, and sophomore Adela Zhang were seventh (2:20.48) in the 200-yard freestyle relay.

First meet of the New Year is Jan. 10 at Brunswick Community College against South and West Brunswick. s4RACK &IELD The athletes resume competition Jan. 3 at White Oak.

Performers

win.

Trask came out firing on all cylinders. They took a 17-9 lead after one quarter of play and stretched the lead to 30-20 at the half.

The third quarter played out the same way the first half did. Trask was on point and extended their lead to 12 points going into the final stanza.

Dixon came out and played the Titans aggressively in the final stanza.

The Dogs made a run at the Rocky Point team but came up five points short of completing the comeback.

Ivey Batts led the Titans with 20 points.

Next up was the Croatan Cougars out of Carteret County. The Cougars were coming off of a 22 point conference win over Lejeune.

When a team can’t score, it is often said that they can’t buy a basket. In the Titans case, a fist full of hundred

dollar bills wouldn’t have bought a basket on this night.

Ivey Batts started the game off hot. He hit back to back three point baskets to give the Titans a 6-4 lead.

The lead reached 10-6 before the home teams shooting woes began to surface.

Croatan took a 12-10 lead into the second period. Their lead reached eight at 26-18 before a Michael Paul layup cut it to six points going into

the halftime break.

The Titans shot 29 percent from the floor in the first half. That was just a prelude of things to come in the second half.

Coach Rodney Or r’s squad played defense and ran the floor. The ball simply would not go in the basket. Trask scored two points in the third frame and went into the fourth quarter trailing by 16 points.

Trask managed only two

putbacks in the first four and a half minutes of the final period. They started the quarter 1-7. By the time they righted the ship they trailed 44-24. A 14-9 Trask run was not enough to overcome a 25.5 percent shooting night.

Batts led the Titans with 12 points.

The Titans are now 4-5 overall and 1-1 in Coastal 8 play.

Lady Cougars on the ropes before falling 43-30.

The story of the Dixon game was the Titan’ sophomore sensation Anisa Lewis. She found a way to score in many different ways in tallying 29 points. She was 2-3 from beyond the three point arc and found her

way inside several times.

She also had two rebounds and four steals.

Trask held the Bulldogs to nine pints in the first half including a single point in the second quarter.

The score was 26-9 at the half. Dixon outscored the Titans in the second half

but the Titan lead was too large to overcome.

Madelyn White scored seven points for Trask.

In the Croatan contest, the Titans led 20-12 in the first half before an 8-0 run by the Lady Cougars tied the score going into the half.

Croatan outscored the Titans 13-6 in the third frame and went into the final frame on a mission.

The taller Cougars hit the boards and outrebounded the Titans. The Cougar lead reached double digits and the Titans fell 43-30.

Lewis led the Titans with

13 points.

Lewis averaged 21.5 points a game for the week.

The Titans are now 4-5 on the year with a 1-1 conference mark.

The Titans are scheduled to play Wilmington Christian Academy on December 27.

“Now we’ll take a little time off and come back Wednesday and get ready for the trip to East Columbus.”

Sullivan and Payton Little (seven points, six rebounds, two steals) scored four and three points, respectively, to account for all of Topsail’s seven first-period points as they fell behind 13-7. The Lady Cardinals’ advantage increased to 25-16 at the intermission as the Jacksonville traps and defenses caused Topsail (7-3, 1-1) to turn the ball over seven times.

Kita had five points in the second quarter to keep the Lady Pirates in contention, but they still trailed 25-15 at the break. A 9-3 run to open the second half put Topsail in a 34-19 hole,

and they faced a 39-26 deficit entering the final eight minutes of the game.

A basket by Little got them with 42-32 with 5:02 to go in the game, but that was as close as they could get as Jacksonville (7-1) closed out the contest with a 9-4 surge.

Tuesday at Hoggard, the Lady Vikings rallied for 13 points in the third period while limiting the Lady Pirates to four points, and used that run as the foundation of a 44-36 MidEastern 3A/4A Conference victory over Topsail.

After trailing 12-7 after the opening stanza, and facing just a 21-16 deficit at the break, the Lady Pirates were 2-for-11 from the field in the deciding third period, adding five turnovers

to their game total of 20, as Hoggard raced out to a 34-20 lead entering the final quarter.

A basket by Dashanique Sidbury got Topsail to within 21-20 with 6:08 to go in that critical third stanza, but a 19-0 Hoggard surge (12-0 to end the third and 7-0 to start the fourth) put the game out of reach.

“We actually started out with a run at the beginning of the third quarter to close to 21-20, and then we went completely flat,” Kapiko said. “I think our girls, mentally, lost their focus and just struggled to get anything going offensively and did not play with a lot of passion on defense.

“In three out of four possessions they went

three, three, and two. We just didn’t run out to well to the three-point line.

Anyone can make three’s when they are not being guarded.”

Earlier the Lady Pirates trailed 17-14 and had sixstraight opportunities to get closer, tie the game, or take the lead, but those six possessions resulted in two turnovers and four missed shots. After Sidbury’s basket made it 21-20, the Lady Pirates failed to score on the next 11 offensive possessions, with Hoggard holding 40-20 advantage.

Topsail was 13-for-43 (30.2%) from the field. The Lady Vikings were 18-for43, (40.8%), but hit on seven three-points to just one for the Lady Pirates.

Sophomore Icess Tres-

vik led Hoggard with 15 points and 10 rebounds, with senior Julie Wilkerson adding nine points – all coming on three-point jumpers. Senior Madison Kita led Topsail with eight points. Junior Julia Sullivan and sophomore Sydney Hartgrove each finished with seven.

After the Christmas break, the Lady Pirates will play in the East Columbus Holiday Classic.

Topsail opens on Thursday (12/27) at 2:00 p.m. against West Columbus (3-5). The losers of that game, and the later contest between South Columbus (2-6) and the host Lady Gators (1-7), will play at 2:00 p.m. Friday (12/28), with the winners vying for the title at 5:00 p.m.

said. “I think I played good, everybody did. I just tried to play within the offense and work with my teammates. It was a good win and now we can take a few days off before we get back in it.”

Joining Long, Vasquez, and Stuart in double figures were Jackson Sullivan 11 points, four rebounds, two steals), and Derek Gardner (12 points, five rebounds, assist, steal).

T u e s d ay ’ s g a m e a t Hoggard can best be described by one word – Collapse!

T h e P i r a t e s p l aye d near-perfect basketball for the first 16 minutes of the game, then suddenly ceased doing what was working as the Vikings

rode a 12-0 run at the start of the third period to tie the game at 21-21 – erasing a 21-9 halftime deficit – and used that outburst to outscore Topsail 42-22 in the second half in a 51-43. Win over Topsail.

“We played so well in the first half,” Rochelle said. “I told them at halftime they were going to hit some shots. I don’t think we played bad defense in the second half but offensively we got away from what got us the lead in the first half, which was moving the ball around and taking good shots.

“In the third quarter we started trying to do too much on our own (individually) and we tuned the ball over, and they got back

in it. I told them after the game, it wasn’t a lack of effort, it was a total lack of execution.”

A lack of execution in just about all phases of the game. The game was close through the first eight minutes. Five different pirates hit the scoreboard to account for nine points, and the defense and rebounding were a solid. Hoggard’s total of six points came via two long-range jumpers

by Bradley Rankin (eight points) – his only field goals of the game.

The Topsail defense was even better in the second period, limiting the Vikings to 1-for-13 shooting from the field and a free throw. Hoggard had seven turnovers in the second

period.

Offensively, junior Ran Morris (six points) scored four points to lead a Topsail charge that put 12 points on the board – creating the aforementioned 21-9 halftime lead. From there, disaster struck.

Viking Sebastian Haidera (game-high 17 points) hit a field goal to ignite the 12-0 run that knotted the score at 21-21. Topsail was plagued by poor shot selection and a rash of turnovers (seven in the period) and the Vikings took full advantage.

A basket by Jackson Massey tied the game at 21-21, and a basket by Kirk Gibbs gave Hoggard a 2523 lead – a lead they would never relinquish. It was a

27-25 game to start the third quarter. Two free throws

by Pirate Amir Andrews to Topsail to within 36-34 with 3:36 remaining, but the Pirates could get no closer as the Vikings went 10-for-13 from the charity stripe over the last eight minutes.

Gardner and Long shared scoring honors for Topsail with eight points each.

After the Christmas break, the Pirates travel to Lake Waccamaw for the East Columbus Holiday Classic. Topsail played West Columbus at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday (Dec. 27).

South Columbus plays East Columbus at 6:30 p.m. – losers play at 3:30 p.m. Friday with the winners going for the trophy at 6:30 p.m.

Intrepid Hardware

Rivenbark looks to close the deal for the Pirates

The Pender-Topsail Post & Voice

Swinson works for big year year on the Pirate mat

presents this week’s

Athlete Spotlight

Zion Cruz

Trask Trask High High School School

INTREPID HARDWARE Intrepid Square 8206 Hwy. 117 Rocky Point, NC 910-675-1157

By Bobby Norris Post & Voice Sports Writer The life of a high school wrestler is difficult. Every time you step onto the mat you find yourself in a fight.

There is no one to help you, no one to make that great block or set that solid screen. It is you against a single opponent.

It takes a young man with a strong will and sense of confidence to be successful in the sport. Over at Topsail High school, Ethan Rivenbark seems to have his high school grappling career headed in the right direction.

Ethan was a state qualifier last year and is off to a great start this season. He is currently 14-1 on the year and is ranked in the Post & Voice On the Mat column.

The Pirates are off until after the holidays. When Ethan returns to the mat, watch him go. He is looking to close the deal this season.

presents this week’s

Athlete Spotlight

Ethan Rivenbark Topsail High School

The Media of Record for the People of Pender County 108 W. Wilmington St. • Burgaw, NC 910.259.9111 www.post-voice.com e-mail: posteditor@post-voice.com

Continued from page 2B the team’s loss to Jacksonville with nine points. *ULIA 3ULLIVAN also scored nine points for the Pirates.

The Heide Trask men’s team opened Coastal 8 Conference play with a win over Dixon. )VEY "ATTS led the Titans with 20 points.

Batts led the Titans with 12 points in their loss to Croatan two days later.

By Bobby Norris Post & Voice Sports Writer T h e Pe n d e r P a t r i o t wrestling team seems to be much improved this year.

Although the team is short on numbers. They have a few wrestlers that seem to have a ton of potential. One of those grapplers is Alvin Swinson.

Although Mr. Swinson is coming off of an injury, he seems to be rounding into shape. He had a 2-0 record going into the Titan duals last weekend with the expectation of doing well.

Alvin is a cool customer on the mat. He never seems to get rattled and works hard the whole time he is on the mat.

Swinson wrestles at 182 pounds. That weight is full of big strong and expereinced competitors. So far, he seems to be more than holding his own.

Alvin Swinson is looking to have a big year for the Pender Patriot wrestling team.

The Lady Titans also earned their first Coastal 8 Conference victory of the year last week, beating the Dixon Lady Bulldogs by 13 points. !NISA ,EWIS hammered the Lady Bulldogs into submission with 29 pints including two treys.

She also led the Titans with 13 points in their loss to Croatan.

This week’s top performer is !NISA ,EWIS. She averaged 21-5 points a game for the week.

A River Runs by Me Photography presents this week’s

Athlete Spotlight

Alvin Swinson Pender High School

910.470.9561

Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, December 27, 2018, Page 4B

She gets her hair from her mom.

Her eyes from her dad.

And her drugs from her HSBOENBhT QVSTF. 53% of people who abuse prescription drugs get them from family or friends. Prevent your children, friends and relatives from abusing your own medication by securing your meds in places they cannot access.

BE AWARE. DON’T SHARE.Ž

LOCK YOUR MEDS.ÂŽ www.lockyourmeds.org/nc

Supported by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Opioid STR/Cures (Grant#1H79TI080257) and SPF-RX (Grant # 1U79SP022087).

HOME | AUTO | LIFE

ontact me today to get started.

C

3 SBE 4J[FNPSF OTVSBODF #(&"( 64 JHIXBZ #) BNQTUFBE $*&&% +#" $)" +### NJMMK##)2OBUJPOXJEF DPN Products underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and affiliated companies. Columbus, OH. Nationwide and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Š 2018 Nationwide 8154319

ď Žď ƒď€ ď ”ď Żď ľď ˛ď Šď łď ­ď &#x;ď ď ¤ď€ ď Œď Ąď šď Żď ľď ´ď łď &#x;ď€´ď ƒď &#x;ď Žď …ď —ď “ď &#x;ď€šď€Žď€¸ď€¸ď ¸ď€ąď€°ď &#x;ď †ď ‰ď Žď ď Œď€Žď Šď Žď ¤ď ¤ď€ ď€ ď€ ď€ł

ď€śď€Żď€´ď€Żď€ąď€´ď€ ď€ ď€ ď€´ď€şď€´ď€ľď€ ď ?ď ?