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The Pender-Topsail
Painting a portrait Wilmington artist Todd Carignan talks about his painting of retiring Pender County Judge Gary Trawick on page 1B. The portrait, unveiled recently, will hang in the Courthouse.
Volume 47, No.12
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Thursday, December 22, 2016
Out for the holiday
Pender County schools ďŹ nished classes this week and went on their holiday break. But the sports teams will be busy with holiday tournaments. Read more in sports on 8A.
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Child killed in bicycle accident
No reindeer required
12-year-old hit by pickup on Blueberry Road By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher A tragic accident claimed the life of a West Pender Middle School student Sunday evening after being hit by a vehicle while riding a bicycle in Pender County. N.C. State Highway Patrol, troopers responded to a car accident on Blueberry Road near Burrell Road in the Currie Community at 5:51 p.m involving two bicycles, Christopher Boswell, 36, of Kelly was traveling south on Blueberry Road in a Ford truck when it struck the two bicyclists who were also traveling south on Blueberry Road from behind. O n e o f t h e b i cycl i s t s,
Meranda Bruce, 23, of Currie was transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington to be treated for minor injuries. The other bicyclist, Autumn Farmer, 12, of Currie died at NHRMC due to her injuries. Farmer and Bruce were reportedly not wearing helmets at the time of the accident. No charges have been filed as of press time and the investigation is still ongoing. Law enforcement officials are asking anyone with information regarding the accident to contact Kenansville Highway Patrol office at (910) 296-1311 or the Highway Patrol Communications Center at (800) 334-7411.
Pender Schools break ground on Penderlea, Surf City buildings Crowds of staff, students, parents, and community members applauded as the shovels hit the soil at the Penderlea and Surf City projects on Thursday, Dec. 15, and Friday, Dec. 16, respectively. “In 2012, the Pender County Board of Education and Board of Commissioners traveled by school bus across the county,
visiting all of our schools to see what our needs are,� said Dr. Terri Cobb, Superintendent. “I am honored to have been there as this journey began and to be here as we break ground.� Board of Education Chair Katherine Herring thanks those in attendance at both events, as well as all of the citizens of Pender County for
Continued on page 12A
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By Miranda Roberts Special to the Post & Voice
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
David Paul, owner of Paul’s Place Hot Dogs in Rocky Point, escorts Santa after his arrival by helicopter Sunday Afternoon. The Jolly Old Elf was at Paul’s Place for their annual Christmas party. See more photos of the event on page 4B and on Facebook.
Post & Voice 2016 year in review
Editor’s Note: Each year, with the last two issues of the year, we review the top news stories of the year. The stories in this edition were originally
process on the school bond projects,â€? Woodruff said. Beach work underway in Surf City The town of Surf City is halfway through a sand push project to rehabilitate the beach and dune erosion that BOC revises animal occurred during multiple ordinance stor ms in 2015. The dune Pender County Commis- project has a 30-day window sioners approved a number due to the holidays, inclement of changes to the county ani- weather, and low tides during mal ordnance. Most notable daylight hours. The project changes include more specific will continue for more than 30 wording on the definiations days and will work from south and actions regarding danger- to north. ous dogs. Senator Burr visits LGC approves Pender Pender, talks economic audit, school bond development moves ahead U.S. Senator Richard Burr Push Mowers Lawnand Tractors • Zeroofficials Turn The North Carolina •Local Pender County Trimmers & Chainsaws Gover nment Commission met Jan. 6 to discuss economic approved the Pender county development and issues facing audit for the 2014-15 fiscal the regions. year. County Manager Ran“We discussed our ecodall Woodruff and Finance nomic development success Director Kathy Brafford met through county investment with LGC officials to discuss in our infrastrucrture and moving ahead with the school commerce park, “ said Pender bond. County Commissioner David “We will be meeting with Williams. them to get guidance on how to Early blooms, freeze will proceed with the next funding effect blueberry crop necessary to keep the design Early blueberry varieties
written by Publisher Andy Pettigrew, Staff Writers Lori Kirkpatrick and Barbara Hazle, and Contributing Writers Jefferson Weaver and Tammy Proctor. This week’s edition will cover January-June 2016. January
are suffering from not enough cold – but agriculture specialists say that could change. Early blooming varieties of berries have blossomed too early early. “Those blooms will freeze and result in yield loss, said Cooperative Extension Agent Mark Seitz. It’s too early to say how much.� Two injured in Maple Hill shooting Two men were injured Friday in a shooting in the parking lot of Lanier’s Grocery in Maple Hill. According to the Pender County Sheriff ’s Department, deputies were called to the store with a report of shots fired. The asMowers sailant reportedly followed the victim to the store, got out of his car, and fired shots into the other car. The shooter then fled the scene. Store owner Kenneth Lanier, who was inside the store at the time of the shooting, said he wasn’t aware of anything until he heard gunfire. “They chased each other, pulled into the parking lot, and
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Photo contributed
Penderlea School students get in on the groundbreaking action Thursday as Pender County Schools broke ground on the new school. School OfďŹ cials also broke ground on the new Surf City school Friday afternoon.
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