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Surf City CFCC
Northeast Cape Fear expected crest Friday
POST Voice The Pender-Topsail
The Surf City campus of Cape Fear Community College is accepting registration for spring semester classes. Read about the new location’s class offerings on page 1B.
Volume 45, No. 6
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Thursday, November 12, 2015
Continued on page 3A
Two Pender County football teams will be on the gridiron Friday in the first round of the NCHSAA state playoffs. Topsail is at home and Trask will travel. Read more in sports on 8A.
50 Cents The Media of Record for the People of Pender County Penderlea School tops report
Honoring veterans
BOC hears plans for school bond projects By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher Minor flooding is expected along the Northeast Cape Fear River in Pender County, with the river to crest by Friday, according to Pender County Emergency Management Director Tom Collins. “We are going to see some minor flooding at around 10 feet. We usually start worrying about flooding when the river hits 13 feet,” Collins said. “I’m hoping we are not going to see that. I don’t think we will. We are just going to have a lot of rain this week.” Collins expects flooding along the Northeast Cape Fear in the usual places – River Bend, River Birch – and flooding in other low lying areas. “As long as this tropical storm stays off the coast and we don’t get any rain from it, we should be fine,” said Collins. Wet winter expected Although the El Niño weather pattern currently developed in the eastern Pacific has a positive effect on hurricanes that can take aim at Pender County, it also can prove problematic during the winter months. The National Weather Service says an El Niño typically reduces the severity of the hurricane season due to increased wind shear across the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean. However its largest local impacts are noted during the winter with heavier precipitation typically occurring across the southern United States including eastern North Carolina.
Playoffs round one
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Veterans were honored across Pender County with several special programs. Bagpipes lead in the Hampstead Post 167 American Legion color guard Saturday at the Veterans Day program.
Operation Christmas Child in Pender County From Staff Reports Two locations in Pender County will serve as collection sites for Operation Christmas Child – the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind. The annual Samaritan’s Purse project is a favorite of many Pender County area residents, families, churches and groups who spread joy to millions of children around the world by filling shoeboxes with a “Wow!” item – like a doll or soccer ball – other fun toys, school supplies, hygiene items and notes of
Changes planned to help Factory Road intersection By Barbara Hazle Contributing Writer The North Carolina Department of Transportation presented a plan to allow safer access to Highway 17 at the Factory Road intersection deemed “the most dangerous intersection” along the Hampstead corridor. Hampstead Baptist Church hosted a meeting Nov. 5 with members of the church, residents of Majestic Oaks and residents from neighborhoods along Factory Road, gathered to meet with Representative Chris Millis, Pender County Sheriff Carson Smith and NCDOT representative Chad Kimes. Kimes presented a map that outlined a new
encouragement. “Through the simple act of filling a shoebox, someone in Pender County can make a tangible difference in the life of a child halfway around the world. Anyone can participate and bring joy to a child facing difficult circumstances,” said Wilmington Area Volunteer Paulette Fittshur, who has participated in Operation Christmas Child for 16 years.
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road to be built by 2020 originating on Factory Road east of the church, west of the Majestic Oaks subdivision, that would connect with Dan Owen Road, providing access to Highway 17 at the Hwy 210 interchange. This project has been fully funded by the NCDOT and is in the design stage with the engineering firm of Stantec headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. “Believe it or not, this project is on a fast track,” said Kimes. “The schedule is for the design phase to be completed by 2017, then land acquisitions are slated for 2018-2019. This is a long process, land acquisition has a timeline of 18 months. Completion of the project is forecast for 2020. The new road will be in before the new traffic flow of right only in and right only out on Factory Road is put into effect.” Many in the audience spoke on having more immediate needs. “This is not just a Sunday need. On a daily basis we need more time to be able to turn left,” said Kerry Kenyon a resident and HOA Board Member of Majestic
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Pender County school officials made presentations before the Pender Board of Commissioners Monday outlining the school bond projects. At the top of the list was the Penderlea School project. Architects brought plans and artist renderings of a new 87,000 square feet K-8 school, which will be built on property behind the existing Penderlea School facing the intersection of Penderlea Highway and Racoon/Garden Road. The project is expected to cost $17.8 million and take 18 months to complete. The gym, auditorium, and media center of the old school will be saved, while the remainder of the building will be demolished after completion of the new building. Commissioner David Piepmeyer questioned School Board members about public opinion regarding a new facility as opposed to a renovation of the exiting historic building, wanting to make sure the majority of the community was in favor of a new building. “It is the School Board’s goal to do what the community wants. But also, number one, it is what is best for our children. We are in the business of educating children and we want to do our very best. They deserve that, the best,” said School Board Chairman Karen Rouse. Piepmeyer said the issue of the Penderlea School was an emotional one. “This is a well-established
community and the school has been the centerpiece of the community for almost 80 years now. I just want to make sure we are communicating, involving the right people, and the right decision for the majority of the stakeholders is made,” Piepmeyer said. Surf City school Commissioners heard a report on the proposed new K-8 school in Surf City from Paul Poney of LS3P Architects. The new facility, located on Atkinson Loop Road, will house 1,200 students in a building similar to Cape Fear Elementary and Middle schools, with a gym, multi-purpose room, and cafeteria in the center of the facility, and classroom wings on either side of the building. County Commissioners met in closed session Monday evening to discuss the land purchase for the school. Following the closed session, Chairman David Williams said there was no official announcement, but he hoped to have something on the land in a few weeks. Commissioners also heard reports on the Burgaw Middle, West Pender Middle, and
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Staff photo by Barbara Hazle
Hampstead residents speak out at a public meeting on NCDOT plans for the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 17 and Factory Road. The meeting was held at Hampstead Baptist Church Nov. 5.
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