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Hampstead Habitat house
POST Voice The Pender-Topsail
Habitat for Humanity is working to build a home in each of North Carolina’s 100 counties in 2017. Read about the Habitat home planned for Hampstead on page 1B.
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Mat men Pender County has some of the state’s top wrestlers on the mat each week. Keep track of the individual wrestlers and the teams with On The Mat in sports on page 9A.
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Volume 47, No. 15
50 Cents
The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
Dune ordinance repeal in Topsail Beach causes stir
Preparing for bad weather
Ordinance prohibited building on dunes at island south end By Lori Kirkpatrick Post & Voice Staff Writer T h e re pe al of Topsail Beach’s dune protective ordinance has stirred controversy among local homeowners. The ordinance stated that property owners could not build on the dunes on the south part of the island.
The four to one vote by the Topsail Beach Town Council will allow them to build, pending clearance from CAMA and the town. In response, a group of at least 36 property owners have filed a lawsuit to stop the town‘s decision. The ordinance originally
Continued on page 3A
Sunday fire in Willard leaves family homeless
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
N.C. DOT trucks take on fuel after spreading salt brine on Pender County Roads last week in anticipation of possible icy conditions. Winter Storm Helena dumped heavy snow on central North Carolina, but spared Pender County and the Cape Fear region of any frozen precipation. Temperatures dipped into the teens after the storm, but only a very light sleet and snow fell in the county.
County jail project could make a comeback Several years ago, a new jail for Pender County was a hot topic. County officials sought rezoning of a tract of land just outside Burgaw for a new jail facility. The rezoning was ultimately rejected by Burgaw, but the county began looking at land owned by the state near the prison in Burgaw. And then the wheels fell off the Pender County wagon. County Manager Mickey Duvall resigned and moved back to western North Carolina, just ahead of revelations of mismanagement in the county finance department and audit problems with the North Carolina Local Government Commission. County Finance Director Butch Watson also resigned and with county finances in shambles, the new jail fell off the radar. County voters also passed a $75 million school bond, which turned attention away from the need for a jail to school construction. Now that the bond projects are underway and county finances are back on a solid footing after a big tax increase, the new jail may garner attention again from commissioners.
“Last year we had a good budget year and this year as well. So we are two years into good management where we are living within our means,� said County Manager Randall Woodruff. “We still need a new jail. We are budgeting significant revenue to house inmates outside the county. It has been on hold until the board decides to revisit it. It could be something they want to talk about at the budget retreat coming up in February.� After Burgaw said no to rezoning, the county began looking at state land near the prison. Woodruff says that would not be a good site for a new jail. “I wouldn’t recommend that site. The state would let the county build on the property with a long lease. But the problem is, you can’t get financing on property you don’t own,� Woodruff said. “You can’t sell bonds or borrow from USDA if you don’t own the property.� Good county audit The audit for fiscal year 2015-16 was submitted on time to the N.C. Local Government Commission. “This is the best audit Pender County has had in years,� Woodruff said. “The
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By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
audit firm did a lot more in depth study and evaluation – they worked the finance staff hard this year. Now that we have been with this new firm through an audit, it won’t be as difficult next year because
given to Jones just recently as a companion dog,� Carr said. While they may have lost their animals, the family said they will get through this through their faith. Carr said that she knows that with God’s help, something good will come out of this. “You know even with all the loss, I still have the most important things in my life,� Carr said. “That’s God, my family, my children, my husband, my family and I’m really thankful for that.� Pender County Fire Marshal Tommy Batson says the cause of the fire is still under investigation. A GoFundMe has been set up. More information on donations for the family can be found on the Post & Voice Facebook page. WWAY contributed to this story.
Arrests in Black River Mini Mart break in From staff reports Two brothers are charged with breaking in the Black River Mini Mart on Hwy. 53 west of the Black River near the Pender-Bladen county line during the Hurricane Matthew flooding in October. The break in occur red Oct. 10. Joshua and Reginald Gagnier were arrested Jan. 6 and charged with felony breaking
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they know the county. Finance Director Kathy Brafford has done a really good job keeping the county ship upright. They keep a lot tighter rein on things than was done in the past.�
From Staff Reports A house fire in the Willard community Sunday afternoon left six children and two adults homeless. The home, located in the 800 block of Giddeons Pond Road was reported on fire about 3 p.m. When firefighters arrived, the house was engulfed in flames. The Carr family was not at home at the time of the fire, but arrived to find their home ablaze. Two dogs were reportedly inside the home and are missing. “Couldn’t get my dogs out,� Carr said. “I tried, I burned my leg trying to kick the door down to get them out but I just couldn’t get them out.� She said one of the dogs was a companion dog for her quadriplegic son, Jones. “A Great Dane that was
and entering, trespassing during an emergency, felony possession of stolen goods, and larceny after breaking and entering. Pender County Sheriff ’s Office investigators say Joshua Gagnier had broken into the same store in September and faces multiple charges for that break-in, as well as a failure to appear charge. His bond is set at $169,200.
Reginald Gagnier’s bond was set at $60,000 Another brother, Travis Gagnier, was arrested and charged for the same crime. He was arrested in November and is currently out of jail on bond. The Sheriff ’s Department also arrested James William Emory Jr., 45, of Atkinson Jan. 7 for the same break in. He is charged with felony
breaking and entering, felony possession of stolen goods, larceny after breaking and entering, and trespassing during an emergency. Emory was booked into the Pender County Jail under a $50,000 bond. The men allegedly stole cases of beer, cig arettes, drinks, candy bars, rolling papers, and toiletry items.
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