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Inside this edition... The North Carolina Wildlife Commission is considering opening a hunting season on alligators in the state. Local meetings on the proposed hunting season are scheduled – Read more on page 2A Summer sports camps in several sports are scheduled at Topsail High School. Read more in Sports on page 8A.
Thursday, July 13, 2017
The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
Volume 47, No. 40
50 Cents
GenX testing of Pender County water
Pender officials expect first water test results this week By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher Pender County Health and Human Services Director Carolyn Moser told County Commissioners Monday she expects the first round of water testing for GenX contamination to begin to arrive as early as July 12. Moser said there are a number of tests from different labs and results should be available for release to the public early next week. Moser expressed concern to Commissioners about possible confusion resulting from different tests and information. “We need to have a clearing house for this. My concern is whoever decides to do testing is going to come out with their report and whose
are we going to follow.” Moser said. “The state needs to say we are going to follow DEQ’s test (Division of Environmental Quality) or not. ” Moser said the health directors from Bladen, New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties have been in close contact with the state and federal environmental officials. “Its been frustrating, since GenX is not a regulated contaminant so the EPA does not have any quality standards for that. They are looking at it, but I don’t anticipate it getting on the pollutant list with the EPA for quite a while,” Moser said. Reports indicate GenX or similar earlier versions of the chemical have been released into the Cape Fear River since 1980. Concerns have been raised about long-term exposure to
the chemicals possibly in drinking water taken from the river. Pender County has only used the Cape Fear River as a water source since the county’s water treatment plant opened in November of 2012. Prior to that, Pender County water came from Wallace, which uses wells as a water source. Moser told the board there has been no evidence in county health studies to support a conclusion that an increase in cancer or other diseases is related to water contamination. “For Pender County, there is nothing in our data to indicate any cancer rates have been impacted by GenX,” said Moser. Moser said there was no increase noted, but even if there were, there are other things that people are exposed to that could be the source
of an increase and not necessarily GenX. “You can’t tie it to GenX for certain when there are other carcinogens that you come across on a daily basis,” Moser said. Moser reiterated there is nothing to show at this time the water poses a health risk. “If anyone is uncomfortable with using the water, that is a personal decision to get bottled water. But according to all the scientific data out there, there is no health risk posed by this,” said Moser. Commission Chairman George Brown said accurate information was important. “We thought it was important the public hear something from us today. Even though we may not have a lot of news, we are trying to stay on top of things,” Brown said.
BOC authorizes funds for out Suspects in knife attack Music at the Farmers Market of county inmate housing surrender By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
County Commissioners gave approval Monday to a request from the Pender County Sheriff ’s Department for $545,000 to be spent on housing Pender inmates in out of county facilities. The funds were divided between the state, New Hanover County, Onslow County, and Sampson County. Overcrowding in the Pender
From Staff Reports Alberto and Roberto Perez surrendered to the Pender County Sheriff ’s Department July 7 after being sought by authorities for several days regarding an assault. Deputies from the Pender County Sheriff ’s Office responded to a report of an incident at Johnsons Corner Grocery located at U.S. Hwy 421 and N.C. 210 in Currie July 3. Upon arrival, deputies located a male victim who had been stabbed multiple times. The victim, Artez Deshawn Robinson, of Leland, was transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in serious but stable condition. The investigation revealed that the two Perez brothers began a physical fight with Robinson inside the store over a prior argument and that both brothers stabbed Robinson before fleeing the store.
County jail forces the Sheriff ’s Department to contract with other counties that have space to house inmates. The expenditure of county funds to house inmates in other counties points to the continuing problem of the inadequacy of the Pender jail facility. Commissioner Fred McCoy expressed concern about the need for a new jail facility, saying this is “something that we can’t keep kicking down the road.”
GenX big business for bottled water By Lori Kirkpatrick Post & Voice Staff Writer For the past month, the phone has not stopped ringing at The Water Jug in Hampstead. As you might imagine, the situation with GenX and the local water supply has people worried – and looking for alter native sources of drinking water. Russ and Eileen Tatum
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at The Water Jug have been working overtime to help their customers choose the best solution to meet water needs. The locally owned and operated bottled water company has been serving Hampstead, Wilmington, Burgaw and surrounding areas since 1995. The company provides a variety of water needs that
Continued on page 10A
Push Mowers • Lawn Tractors • Zero Turn Mowers Trimmers & Chainsaws
Alberto Perez
SALES • SERVICE • PARTS • DELIVERY Financing Available Staff photos by Andy Pettigrew
Roberto Perez
Classic Bruce Butcher provided music for shoppers at the Farmers Market last week at Poplar Grove. Children enjoyed visiting with a pony from the Plantation’s animal rescue. The farmers market is held every Wednesday at Poplar Grove Plantation, Hwy. 17 in Scotts Hill.
Eileen and Russ Tatum at the Water Jug.
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