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Inside this edition...
The Pender-Topsail
&
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Boating is a popular pastime during the summer months. Make sure you follow the rules while on the water – Read more
on page 2A
Former Topsail Pirates are making their way in life after high school and college. Read more in Sports on page 8A.
Fundraiser for Hurricane Matthew victims in Canetuck Aug. 16. See page 3A.
The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
Volume 47, No. 39
50 Cents
Pender Utilities conducting its own GenX testing By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher Pender County Utilities is doing GenX testing beyond the tests conducted by the N.C. Division of Environmental Quality. According to Michael Mack, Pender Utilities Director, 45 water samples were delivered to N.C. State University June 26 for testing. These tests are independent of the DEQ tests. County
officials expect testing to take several weeks. In a June 27 email obtained by the Post & Voice, Mack said the additional samples are taken “along our entire water treatment process from river water through to finished/ drinking water. This study is being conducted independent of DEQ and the other water utilities in the area to learn about the effectiveness of Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) in the removal of GenX and other vinyl ethers (PFOS
and PFOA) from the Cape Fear River water. Mack says water plant operators are taking water samples every hour while the plant is treating water. “We pull one sample of our raw water and one sample of our finished water and dispense them into two separate daily composite sample bottles. This process will continue daily. The purpose in pulling the daily composite samples is to verify that Chemours has in fact, discon-
tinued the discharge of GenX into the Cape Fear River as of June 22 as they have reported. We will be able to analyze at least 21 days of river water from June 20 through July 10 for the presence of GenX,” Mack wrote. With all the water samples rolling into the Environmental Protection Agency lab in Research Triangle Park, Mack says it could be three weeks or longer before the results of the first DEQ tests are returned.
Who uses Pender Utilities water? Fun celebrating July Fourth
From Staff Reports With the controversy over the chemical GenX in the Cape Fear River, the question has arisen among some Pender County residents as to who uses Cape Fear River water? The answer is very simple. If you receive a water bill from Pender Utilities, the county water service, you are using Cape Fear River water – processed into drinking water, of
course. All Pender Utilities water originates in the Cape Fear River, is treated at the county’s water plant located off U.S. 421 near the Pender/ New Hanover county line. It flows through the Pender Utilities distribution system to all areas of the county served by Pender Utilities, including Hampstead. Burgaw, Surf City, Topsail Beach, and the Maple Hill
area water systems do not use Pender County Utilities water and do not take their raw water from the Cape Fear River. P e n d e r C o u n t y, N e w Hanover County, and Brunswick County all use the same water intake on the Cape Fear River to supply their water systems. Pender County’s raw water comes from the same source as the other two counties.
Long-time location on U.S. 17 to be developed
Spot Festival in the same spot this year By Tammy Proctor Pender County Tourism Director The North Carolina Spot Festival, an event in Hampstead that attracts thousands, will take place at the same location at 14221 US Hwy 17 North. The location along U.S. 17 in Hampstead which has hosted the festival for many years, has been sold and will be developed – but not before this year’s festival in September. “The earthmovers currently on site will level out the land for future development,” said David Crooks, one of the NC Spot Festival organizers. “This will actually help us because we will have a level surface.”
The NC Spot Festival is set for Sept. 23-24. “We’re going to have food - including spots, of course,” said Crooks. “We have a lot of craft vendors registered. “ Spots are a small local fish that “run” in September. The deep fried spot is a festival delicacy. Music is always a huge
attraction at the NC Spot Festival. This year the Band of Oz and the Carolina Band will perform. “We are working on new attractions as well,” said Crooks. He encourages residents to follow the NC Spot Festival on Facebook. Announcements of scheduling, bands, and new attractions will be announced via their Facebook page. The NC Spot Festival is operated by a volunteer citizens group. The proceeds from the festival are donated to the Pender EMS & Fire and local schools. For more information message the festival on Facebook. They have a website with information, ncspotfestival. com.
Pair charged in Willard murder From Staff Reports A Rose Hill man and a Wallace woman have been charged with first degree murder in the death of a Willard man June 29. Pender County Sheriff ’s deputies responded to an incident involving weapons at the Willard Outreach Organization located at 9955 N.C. Hwy.. 11 in Willard June 29 at 10:39 p.m. Upon ar rival, deputies found 18-year-old Antonio Logan of Willard suffering from severe head trauma. Logan was transported by ambulance to Pender Memorial Hospital where he was then airlifted to New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Logan died June
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30 from injuries sustained in the assault. Following an investigation, Douglas Dontay Peterson, 19 of Rose Hill and Renesha
Lagina-Ann Bryant, 20 of Wallace were each charged with first degree murder. Both are currently held without bond in the Pender County Jail.
ITʼS TIME TO GET -
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
The Fourth of July was celebrated across Pender County with events from the east to the west. This young lady enjoyed the fun at the Union Rescue Squad celebration Saturday. See more photos of the event on page 4B and Facebook.
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