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The Pender-Topsail
&
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Volume 47, No. 44
In this edition... Would you like to learn to work with steel? How about weaving baskets? Poplar Grove Plantation offers workshops in blacksmithing, basket making and more. Read about it on page 1B. Pender County high school volleyball teams are getting ready for the 2017 season. Read more in Sports on page 8A.
The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
50 Cents
Outer Banks power problems drive vacationers to Topsail By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher Vacationers left in the dark on the Outer Banks found a ray of sunshine on Topsail Island in recent weeks. When the lights went out on the Outer Banks, vacationers were told to evacuate Ocracoke and Hatteras. “The tourism office received calls,” said Tammy Proctor, director of Pender County Tourism. “Families didn’t want to cancel their vacations and they wanted to know about Topsail.”
Pender Sunday alcohol sales to begin at 10 a.m.
Lisa Sparrow, owner of Starfish Realty, said the office was insanely busy. “We have received many calls from renters trying to find an opening for a vacation rental,” Sparrow said. “We are happy that we were able to provide them a silver lining in such a horrible situation.” Cathy Medlin, owner of Island Real Estate, said their phones immediately began rin g in g an d vacati o ners walked into the office “to save their vacations.” “When potential visitors call the office, we try to offer
suggestions tailored to their family,” said Proctor. “We ask if they are traveling with children and or grandparents. We ask if they know about the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. We ask if they want to cruise the Intracoastal Waterway; if they want a fishing charter; and if they like history.” Proctor said if visitors say they love historical sites, the tourism office shares information about Missiles and More Museum, Moores Creek National Battlefield, and the Historic Train Depot in Burgaw.
“We direct folks to our website, visitpender.com, and the Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce free app,” said Proctor. Proctor said the inquiries provided the tourism office with an opportunity to share information about accommodations, attractions, shopping, and dining. “Pender County has so much to offer,” she added. “We empathize with the small businesses on the Outer Banks,” said Proctor. “But we are pleased vacationers didn’t abandon the Carolina
Coast.” “It was such a horrible thing for all of the residents, business owners and tenants to have to go through in Cape Hatteras and the Outer Banks area,” said Sparrow. “We just hope one positive is that they are finding out how wonderful Topsail Island is.” Tourism is vital to the North Carolina economy. In Pender County, according to the latest spending statistics, visitors spent $93 million in one year. Busy summer on Topsail Island
DOT outlines revisions to Hampstead projects
Never a bad day fishing
From Staff Reports Pender County Commissioners approved a resolution to allow beer and wine sales on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m. Currently, sales are allowed to begin at noon. The move will only affect unincorporated areas of Pender County. The North Carolina General Assembly authorized local governments to begin alcohol sales at 10 a.m. on Sundays with legislation passed June 29. The county resolution will not affect municipalities within the county. The local town governments will determine the time of Sunday alcohol sales within their municipal limits.
Sloop Point Loop/U.S. 17 intersection lights delayed By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher The addition of special warning lights and traffic light systems at the Sloop Point Loop Road and U.S. 17 southern intersection has been delayed. NCDOT engineer Jessi Leonard says the work was originally scheduled for last week, but more pressing situations in other locations caused a delay. In an email to Commissioner David Williams, Leonard said “We have two signals in two other counties that we must get installed prior to school starting and have site visits scheduled with the power companies
Continued on page 3A
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Someone once said a bad day fishing is better than a good day at work. Although not catching much, this fisherman enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the Intracoastal Waterway on the south end of Topsail Island.
Not total, but close at 96 percent Aug. 21
Pender going dark in the eclipse of 2017
Push Mowers • Lawn Tractors • Zero Turn Trimmers & Chainsaws
By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher Pender County is going dark Aug. 21, so get your special glasses now. Although the big eclipse of 2017 won’t be total here, it will cause an extreme reduction in sunlight. At the peak of the eclipse, 96 percent of the sun will be blocked, meaning only four percent of the sun will be visible during the peak of the eclipse.
Even beforee the Outer Banks power problems, Surf City Mayor Doug Medlin says this has been one of the busiest summers he can remember on Topsail Island – and he’s been around a long time. “Just about all the businesses I’ve talked to this year say they are up. It’s just been a lot more traffic. We have seen a lot of folks from the Outer Banks,” Medlin said. “I hate it for them, but we are glad to take them. I’ve seen a lot of folks coming this week that were originally headed to the Outer Banks.”
From Staff Reports In a marathon report to Pe n d e r C o u n t y C o m m i s sioners lasting more than 90 minutes, North Carolina Department of Transportation officials outlined changes and revisions to projects in Hampstead and other areas of the county. The report was given during Monday’s commission meeting. In summary, two major revisions to Hampstead projects were announced. The controversial midtown exchange proposed in the U.S. 17 Bypass project has been eliminated. Access to the Bypass from Business 17 (existing U.S. 17) will be made on Hoover Road. The road, which currently is a dead end, will connect with the new bypass with changes made at the Hoover Road and Business 17 intersection. The change will also give an alternate access and exit for traffic associated with South Topsail Elementary School – all traffic will not have to use Business 17 to access the school. Also, DOT of ficials announced the future construction of a connector street from Factory Road to the U.S. 17 and N.C. 210 intersection near the Food Lion shopping center and the Hampstead Post Office. Mowers Currently, Factory Road intersects with U.S.17 just north of the N.C. 210 intersection and is a very high traffic, congested area. The new connector street will allow traffic along Factory road to access U.S. 17 at a traffic light, rather than attempting to cross several lanes of traffic. Additional projects outlined in the DOT report to commissioners will be covered in next week’s Post & Voice.
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The experts tell us the last time we had an eclipse of this magnitude was back in 1970. I remember that one. We were running around at school with boxes on our heads with a pinhole in one end looking at a little dot that was the sun. They also say there won’t be another in North Carolina until 2078. I think Andy III will enjoy that one. We will be close to total, but alas, no ci-
Continued on page 2A
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