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Multiple cemeteries found on Hampstead parcel From Staff Reports Last week the Pender County Planning staff was made aware of land clearing activities occurring on a parcel of land in Hampstead and multiple cemeteries were located on site as well.

“Our staff received a “preliminary plat” application for a residential subdivision for this property months ago, but it is

Land clearing stopped after residents alert county currently pending at this time,” said Travis Henley, Pender County Planning and Community Development Director. “Pender County has not issued approval of the preliminary plat for this site, which is required prior to commencement of any land de-

velopment activities. Therefore, the property is in violation of the Unified Development Ordinance.”

Henley noted that Pender County has through the years attempted to document cemeteries across the County, and this

list is continuously updated as new cemeteries are found and documented.

“One cemetery on-site had been previously documented by the County, but planning staff were alerted to another that was not,” said Henley. “Staff

immediately reached out to the surveyor and put the surveyor in contact with the local citizen to determine the exact location of the additional markers.

Per conversations with the surveyor and the applicant, the location of these markers has been documented.

Continued on page 2A

More vaccine in Pender as demand increases

The other end of the state

By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher

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Pender County Health and Human Services Director Carolyn Moser told Pender County Commissioners Monday she anticipates the COVID-19 vaccine being available to the general public sometime in mid-April. Currently, the vaccine is available to CDC Groups 1-4. Moser told the board there has also been an increased interest in the vaccine.

“What we have seen is a lot of people have changed their mind about the vaccine. Initially they were not interested in receiving the vaccine. Now they are. Whether it is those who were in Group 1 and 2, even teachers and county employees are changing their mind. We have vaccine available and they can call in or go on line when we have openings.”

Pender County has been averaging about 600 doses of vaccine each week during the past few weeks.

That averaged to one dose

per seven residents of the county. “We are still lagging behind most counties in the state.”

“Tomorrow (Tuesday) we will receive 800 doses because there have been multiple sites that have declined their vaccine this week. They just can’t give it. We have seen a slow down in appointments until we opened up to Group 4,” Moser said. “Two weeks ago we began vaccinating teachers and child care workers. Last week we worked on county employees. We are working on some manufacturing companies this week, a lot of second doses. We are in

Perseverance marks Pender High grad’s career in journalism Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew

The North Carolina highlands provided this sunrise while visiting near Waynesville last weekend. A country road winds through the valley along Plott Creek, the origin of the state dog, the Plott Hound.

From Murphy to Manteo, the Tarheel State is a beautiful place.

By Lori Kirkpatrick Post & Voice Staff Writer

You may recognize Jeff Rivenbark as the Good Morning Carolina and News at Noon Anchor on WWAY-TV. Locals might also know him from his childhood days growing up in Burgaw in the 1970s and 80s. His father’s family, the Rivenbarks, were farmers in the Wallace area. His mother’s family, the Chadwicks, lived in Burgaw. His grandfather worked as a logger at his sawmill on his farm on Shelter Creek.

“All four of my grandparents were hardworking people with an extremely strong work ethic,” said Rivenbark.

“Some of my fond childhood memories

include attending the very first Spring Fest celebrations, watching crews film Silver Bullet in 1985, and weekly trips to the Pender County Library during summer vacation to load up on books and LPs.” As a child, Rivenbark remembers transforming his toy Shell gas station into a TV station -- complete with a news anchor set and a camera made from cardboard. He would make microphones out of Tinker Toys and pretend to be a radio DJ while playing songs from Sesame Street and Bing Crosby albums checked out from the library.

As a teen, he recalls watching former TODAY anchors Tom Brokaw and Jane Pauley cover the royal wedding

Continued on page 6A

of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

There was never a doubt - he wanted to work in broadcasting.

Push Mowers • Lawn Tractors • Zero Turn Mowers “As a junior at Pender High School in Trimmers & Chainsaws 1988, I participated in a shadowing program which allowed students to shadow someone in our career of choice. I shadowed a reporter at a Wilmington TV station. From that experience, it confirmed that I wanted to work in TV – no matter what it took to make it happen,” Rivenbark explained.

After graduating from Pender High School in 1989, Rivenbark attended college at UNCW. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Jeff Rivenbark reads to Malpass Corner

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Pender-Topsail Post & Voice, Thursday, March 18, 2021, Page 2A

Pender County Arrest Report Information in this report is taken from the Pender County Sheriff’s Department Weekly Intake Report, which is responsible for the content.

The report is public record. An arrest or charge does not always result in a conviction in court.

•Catherine Antonucci (1964) 1121 Cornell Court Leland.

Driving while impaired, littering. Arrest by Burgaw Police Department.

•German Arango Jr. (1985) 40 Cardinal Court Burgaw.

Driving while impaired, driving while license revoked.

Arrest by PC Sheriff ’s Office.

•Michelle Bailey (1969) 2676 Island Drive North Topsail Beach. Driving while impaired, hit/run failure to stop.

Arrest by Surf City Police Department.

•Manuel Bordeaux (1959) 301 S. Wright St. Burgaw.

Misdemeanor larceny (two counts), second degree trespass (two counts), first degree trespass. Arrest by Burgaw Police Department.

•Jonathan Bradshaw (1984) 825 Firetower Rd. Rose Hill.

Driving while impaired. Arrest by NC Highway Patrol.

•Jay Clark (2000) 4 Thomas Smith Lane Teachey. Simple possession of Schedule VI Controlled Substance, misdemeanor larceny. Arrest by Burgaw Police Department.

•Xavier Cooper (1990) 4304 Peachtree Ave. Wilmington.

Driving while license revoked, speeding. Arrest by PC Sheriff ’s Office.

•Gayle Gieger (1987) 307 Lullwater Dr. Wilmington. Indecent exposure, simple assault, second degree trespass, resisting arrest/hinder and delay officer. Arrest by PC Sheriff ’s Office.

•Thomas Gray Jr. (1976) 7784 NC Hwy. 53 E. Rocky Point.

Possession of heroin, probation violation, non-support.

Arrest by Probation Officer.

•Joseph Hayes (1963) 100 Little Buddy Rd. Currie. Assault on emergency personnel (three counts). Arrest by PC Sheriff ’s office.

•Antoine James (1970) 1111 S. 6 Street Wilmington.

Driving while impaired. Arrest by NC Highway Patrol.

•Terrance Luines (1992) 650 US Hwy. 117 S. Burgaw. Possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest/hinder and delay officer. Arrest by PC Sheriff ’s Office.

•Alan Moore (2002) 4238 Bell Williams Rd. Currie.

Driving while impaired, speeding, simple possession of Schedule IV Controlled Substance, possession of marijuana paraphernalia. Arrest by PC Sheriff ’s Office.

•Arnold Morales Jr. (1972) 109 Full Moon Dr. Chimney Rock. Driving while impaired. Arrest by PC Sheriff ’s Office.

•Michael Morton (1998) 408 Ensign Ct. Hampstead.

Driving while impaired, failure to maintain lane control.

Arrest by NC Highway Patrol.

•Tammy Spencer (1991) 914 Kinston Highway Richlands. Misdemeanor breaking/entering, second degree trespass. Arrest by PC Sheriff ’s Office.

•Vernon Spencer (1969) 116 Pecan Tree Ln. Teachey.

Non-support. Arrest by Pender County Sheriff ’s Office.

•Christopher Tew-Creech (1992) 180 Edna John Ct. Dunn. Possession of Controlled Substance on prison/ jail premises (two counts). Arrest by Harnett County

Burgaw Rotary donates to local organizations

By Lori Kirkpatrick Post & Voice Staff Writer Rotarians are volunteers with diverse perspectives, and they are committed to making lasting changes in our communities and on a global basis. Burgaw Rotary Club (BRC) has continued to help local organizations in Pender County in a variety of ways.

The group recently gave checks to Pender Adult Services for Meals on Wheels,

Cemeteries Continued from page 1A Additionally, the applicant had additional surveyors on-site Monday, March 15, to attempt to determine the presence of any additional unmarked graves.

The planning staff anticipate receiving the results of this survey in the coming days.

Pender County’s planning staff engaged local historians as well as partners at the North Carolina Department of Environmen-

Rivenbark Continued from page 1A Studies, and became the first grandchild in his family to complete a four-year college degree. He began reaching out to local stations for employment in the early 1990s, but none were willing to give him the time of day. Told to come back when he had some experience, he began working part-time at Reed’s Jewelers.

Still determined not to let the rejection stifle his dream, Rivenbark enrolled in graduate school at Regent University in Virginia Beach, in 1995. He graduated with a master’s degree in Journalism two years later, but breaking into broadcasting wasn’t easy.

Through the challenges, he was encouraged by one scripture that reminded him to not give up - Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

“To this day, I keep a two-inch notebook that contains the rejection letters I received back from TV stations across the country.

Did I get discouraged? You bet I did, but I never gave up. Philippians 4:13 would always come into my mind ! and I would cling to the promise those ten words hold,” said Rivenbark. !

Rivenbark’s first job in the business took him to ! in St. a small TV market Joseph, Missouri. While he served as the morning anchor at ABC affiliate KQTV, he met lots of friends and enjoyed living in the Midwest for about two years.

Having a master’s degree also allowed him to teach at the college level, and the extra income was critical since his first TV job didn’t pay much.

“This is why I encourage young people to focus on their education. It will help to sustain you in so

Pender Christian Services, Pender Youth Soccer Association, and Camp Kirkwood for an overnight camp scholarship.

In addition to the donations, Burgaw Rotary Club

has also continued their efforts to encourage children in the area to read. They have set up their eighth Little Free Library in Pender County. It is located at the Willard Outreach Commu-

tal Quality, North Carolina Department of Cultural and Natural Resources, and the US Army Corps of Engineers to further verify compliance with all applicable historical and environmental rules, including but not limited to all rules regarding cemeteries. This is in addition to previous work through the Technical Review Committee.

“The county will work with these partners and the applicant to ensure all cemeteries and graves are documented and preserved throughout the develop-

ment process,” said Henley.

“This includes ensuring that all grave locations and protective measures are documented on all submitted plats and that compliance is achieved with all appropriate local, state, and federal regulations in accordance with the Unified Development Ordinance and all other applicable standards, as we do with all projects submitted to this Office.”

Site work shall not be permitted to continue until a preliminary plat that meets all applicable stan-

many ways as you’re working to pursue your passion and career,” Rivenbark said.

Since then, Rivenbark has held multiple roles including anchor, reporter, assignment editor and executive producer. He is an adjunct lecturer in the Communication Studies Department at UNC Wilmington, and loves sharing his first-hand experience working in broadcasting with his students. He hopes to inspire some of them to pursue their own careers in journalism. He is also a member of the Thalian Association Community Theatre Board of Directors.

“In 2018, I accepted the morning and noon anchor position at WWAY, the ABC and CBS affiliate serving the Cape Fear region. I felt it was a good time in my life to move closer to home.

March first marked my third anniversary and I am now beginning my fourth year with the company,” said Rivenbark.

Some of the most memorable moments for Rivenbark are those that occurred during wall-to-wall hurricane coverage. During Hurricanes Florence and Dorian, he slept on a at the TV station and ! cot ! ! worked 12-hour shifts onair providing coverage of ! the storm.! !

“Those are the times you really feel you’re serv! ing the community ! ! with lifesaving information,” he said.

Rivenbark produces a weekly story for WWAY’s “Teacher of the Week” segment where he surprises local teachers with a $100 gift card. He selects teachers from nominations that are submitted to the station. The story airs on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and Wednesday at 6 a.m.

Since overcoming the obstacles he faced in those early days pursuing his

career, Rivenbark is now an Emmy-nominated and award-winning journalist with more than 22 years’

nity building. The group also donated funds to Safe Haven of Pender’s domestic violence shelter to purchase books for children at the shelter.

BRC is also planning to hold the Ricky Biberstein Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament at Duplin Country Club May 13.

The community is invited to create a team, sponsor a hole, or become a corporate

Continued on page 14A dards, coupled with all relevant permits and approvals from outside agencies, is approved by Pender County. The county has not in any way permitted or allowed site work to occur on this parcel at this time.

In addition to communicating directly with the applicant to cease all work, Pender County will be using all appropriate remedies in accordance with Article 13 ‘Enforcement and Penalties’ of the Pender County Unified Development Ordinance to rectify this situation. experience in television broadcasting. He lives in Wilmington with his dog, Daisy, a Lab-mix rescue.

Pender EMS and Fire Report Mar. 7-13 Pender EMS Report Total number of Patient Contacts: 191 Calls per Station Burgaw Station 1 30 Sloop Point Station 14 29 Hampstead Station 16 27 Surf City Station 23 19 Topsail Beach Station 4 5 Union Station 5 9 Rocky Point Station 7 45 Atkinson Station 9 23 Maple Hill Station 13 0 Scotts Hill Station 18 0 Hwy 421 South Station 29 4 Type of Calls Cancelled: 33 Refusals: 51 Stand By: 2 Transported: 94 Transported: 94 Treated/released: 1 Fire Department Reports Total Calls: 66 Calls per Station Rescue Station 1 Burgaw 9! !

Fire Station 13 Maple Hill 4 Fire Station 14 Sloop Point 19 ! !

Fire Station 16 Hampstead 2 Fire Station 18 Scotts Hill 9! !

Fire Station 21 Long Creek 7 Fire Station 29 Hwy 421 S 9 EMS St. 4 Top. Beach 0 Station 17 Penderlea 4 Station 28 Island Creek 3 Fire Call Type Summary Fire 9 Motor Vehicle Crash 5 Search and Rescue 0 Service Calls 3 EMS First Response 32 Cancelled 17 Ocean Rescue 0

Sheriff ’s Office.

•Melissa Tyler (1978) 2115 Burnett Blvd. Wilmington.

Possession of heroin, felony breaking/entering, larceny after breaking/entering, possession of stolen goods, possession of drug paraphernalia. Arrest by PC Sheriff ’s Office.

•Lanney Weaver (1973) 57 Kellie St. Currie. Assault on a female. Arrest by Burgaw Police Department.

•Monroe White (1996) 137 Woodside Dr. Hampstead.

Assault on a female. Arrest by PC Sheriff ’s Office.

•Dreshawn Williams (1992) 819 Chestnut St. Wilmington. Driving while license revoked (three counts), speeding, seat belt violation. Arrest by PC Sheriff ’s Office.

•Robbie Yeneic (1982) 3060 US Hwy. 117 S. St. Helena.

Non-support. Arrest by PC Sheriff ’s Office.

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