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Volume 47, No. 33
The Pender-Topsail
&
Inside this edition... Burgaw Antiqueplace in downtown Burgaw is on the cutting edge of bringing new life to the downtown area. Read more in Living on page 1B.
The Topsail Pirates baseball team is in the regional series with Northern Guilford in the state playoffs this week. Read more
in Sports on page 8A.
Thursday, May 25, 2017
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The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
Overdose deaths down, Sheriff says
Opioids biggest drug problem in Pender County By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher It used to be cocaine and crack. But now, opioid use has taken the lead in drug abuse in Pender County. Pender County Sheriff Carson Smith says despite the epidemic of opioid abuse, the number of deaths to
overdoses is down in Pender County from last year. “About a year ago, we were seeing a lot more deaths from overdoses. A lot of that was from the bad heroin that was on the street – drugs with other chemicals mixed with it. That has decreased,” Smith said. “But as far as the people that are using either
prescription opioids or heroin, we have not seen a decrease in that.” Smith says one of the big differences in dealing with opioid abuse as opposed to other drugs, is the frequency of overdose. “People we would deal with on cocaine, crack or other drugs, they would be messed up, but they were
alive. What we have seen with the opioids, especially the past several years, they can die,” Smith said. Pender County Sheriff ’s deputies and EMS crews now carry Narcan, the drug that counteracts the deadly effects of an overdose and can save the life of an overdose victim. Opioids depress the nervous system and
cause the victim to stop breathing in an overdose. Narcan (naloxone) counteracts this effect. Opioid abuse is not limited to heroin – addiction to opioids often begins with legal prescription drugs. “Much of the addiction has come
Continued on page 2A
Hurricane Matthew recovery
Aircraft and good eating at Stag Air Park Local churches raise money to raise homes By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
Staff photo by Katie H. Pettigrew
Dennis Ellison chops barbecue at Stag Air Park Saturday during the EAA Chapter 2978 annual Spring Fly-in. The local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) holds several fly-ins each year. See more photos of the event on page 4B and on Facebook.
More than seven months after Hurricane Matthew sent flood waters across western Pender County, many families are still struggling to return to their homes. With federal disaster money yet to arrive to pay for raising homes in the affected area above flood level, church groups in the area joined together to raise funds to help. Two homes in the Canetuck community were raised May 24 by a Texas company utilizing funds from a group headed by the Baptist Men of the Wilmington Baptist Association. Mike Moser, head of the Wilmington Association Baptist Men, says a lot of groups are working together in the effort to get flood victims back in their homes. “This is not paid with FEMA money. This is from money we were able to raise from Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian churches,” Moser said. “That is a pretty big deal. It was money given specifically to raise these houses.” Moser said this is the first of the homes to be raised and
donations are still needed. “Hurricane Matthew has still left a lot of people out of their homes and work is still going on. It will be going on for a long period of time,” said Moser. The company raising the homes is doing the work at cost to help with the project. “They are doing the work at about half the price. They are not making any money off the job,” Moser said. Pender County Planning Director Kyle Breuer says the application for the flood mitigation grant was submitted the last of March and he expects information on the grant June 1. There are two basic types of FEMA grants to flood victims. The recovery grants provide for immediate relief for victims who have
Continued on page 2A
Roots of Love Yoga festival in Surf City By Bill Messer Post & Voice Staff Writer The day started early for the yoga participants with a sunrise session on the beach. Experienced practitioners and the newly introduced, as well as the curious, gathered at the Surf City Park for a day of festivities, with speakers and activities to enrich the experience Vendors lined the fence, offering a wide variety of materials for the spiritually adventurous: herbs, aromatics, minerals, soothing lotions, all the things that help relax the mind and body and soul.
velopment stages, that hopes to offer a safe place for a mother recovery from PushinMowers • Lawn Tractors • Zero Turn Mowers addictions, and thier children, to live in, Trimmers & Chainsaws and participate in, a healthy lifestyle with lots of support from all aspects of the recovery community. The goal is to keep the mother and children together throughout the program’s process, and preserve the family’s unity. Asked about the success of the day’s activities, Catherine McDowell, one of Photo contributed the directors, said, “It was a tremendous District Court Judge James Faison III talks with students success! We had several hundred people
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Catherine McDowell The festival was in support of the Roots of Recovery program, in the de-
ITʼS TIME TO GET -
Continued on page 3A
at the West Pender Middle School Career Day last week. Students from West Pender and Penderlea School participated in the event.
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