Let Freedom Ring
For the Land That We Love! Offered 6/29/15 to 7/5/15.
Homegrown veggies Edens’ Produce in Scotts Hill sells what they grow at their stand across from Poplar Grove. Read about this family operation on page 1B.
Volume 44, No. 39
POST Voice The Pender-Topsail
&
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Summer basketball and volleyball programs are underway in Pender County. Read about summer sports activities on page 10A.
50 Cents
Rabies increase in Pender
County budget passes 3-2 By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher Pender County Commissioners voted 3-2 Tuesday afternoon to approve the new county budget, which includes a 17.3-cent increase in property taxes. Commissioners David Williams, George Brown, and Fred McCoy voted for the budget, with David Piepmeyer and Demetrice Keith voting no. After failing to pass a new county budget Monday night, commissioners continued their meeting Tuesday afternoon. Monday evening Brown made a motion to approve the new budget, but failed to get a second on his motion. McCoy said he was against the budget due to the funding of the school bond, leaving only Williams and Brown in favor of the budget. Chairman Williams is unable to make or second motions. But in Tuesday’s meeting McCoy changed his opinion, saying after much thought and soul-searching, he decided to “bite
No purchase of waterfront property, board says Pender County Commission Chair man David Williams knew the idea was probably dead on arrival, even before it was brought up at Monday’s board meeting – but he felt he should do it anyway. He was right. The proposal to purchase several acres of waterfront proper ty adjacent to the county’s public boat ramp in Hampstead didn’t gain any traction with commissioners and the idea died for lack of a motion. Williams said he knew the property purchase – $1.3 million – was very bad timing, but he felt the idea needed to be at least discussed by commissioners. “I knew I would get criticism for this, but I just wanted to let the people know the opportunity was out there,” Williams said. “The timing could not be more horrible, but I’ve been working on it
Summer basketball
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McCoy changes vote, goes with proposed budget
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the bullet” and vote for the budget. “I know it’s going to be politically costly for me, but we are here to make hard decisions,” McCoy said. “It’s time to move ahead.” Brown quickly made a motion to pass the budget with McCoy’s second, the budget passed 3-to-2. Piepmeyer said he was against the budget for several reasons, including the school bond and county resident’s opposition to a 17.3-cent tax increase. “I’m yet to feel comfortable about some of the things to do with the school bond, especially the Penderlea School. I want to make sure they get what they were sold,” Piepmeyer said. “And I listened to the huge number of people who said the increase was too much to shoulder.” A summary of the new budget was not available at press time. The Post & Voice will look at the new budget in coming newspaper issues.
Pender County Health Director Carolyn Moser is urging county residents to be aware of the rabies threat. Four rabid animals have been reported over the past four weeks – two raccoons and two foxes – including several attacks. “This has us worried. I think we had seven cases in 2014 and here we are in June with four back-to-back,” Moser said. “If you see a wild animal acting strangely, stay away.” Raccoons and foxes are the
most prominent carriers of the disease in Pender County. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, so a raccoon active in the daytime is likely rabid. Also, both raccoons and foxes will exhibit fear of humans, so any animal that does not seem afraid of people is likely rabid. “Don’t go near it. Call animal control,” said Moser. “And make sure your pets are vaccinated against rabies.” Rabies vaccinations are available for $5 at the Pender County Animal Shelter. Moser says they are planning more rabies clinics in the near future.
A hot Blueberry Festival
and I wanted people to know about it. Right now the county does not have money invested in this project thus far.” Commissioner George Brown said he wanted to support the project, which would include a fishing pier, picnic area and rest rooms, “I think it would be a great investment for the county – but we are not looking for any investments right now,” Brown said. Brown told Williams he appreciated the work that Williams had put into trying to obtain the land and arrange for the Wildlife Resources Commission to improve the property. Williams reminded everyone the current boat ramp facility was funded by grants and the county taxpayers did not purchase or pay to improve the property. “Other than cutting the grass, emptying the trash cans, and servicing the porta-johns, we don’t have any investment in the boat ramp,” Williams said.
Staff photos by Andy Pettigrew
Dancers enjoyed the music early at Saturday’s annual N.C. Blueberry Festival in Burgaw, in spite of the temperature, which soared into the upper 90s. See more photos of the event on 16A and on Facebook.
Poplar Grove summer camps for kids By Lori Kirkpatrick Post & Voice Staff Writer Poplar Grove Plantation is offering half-day summer camps for the second year. Scheduled for nine days throughout the summer, each camp will have a theme. The camps began on June 23 and will take place from 9 a.m. until noon. Designed for rising first through fifth graders, the cost is $15 per child per day. Parents can choose the days to fit their child’s interests and schedules. Participants Staff photo by Katie H. Pettigrew must pre-register, and each class is Retired Pender County science teacher Charlie Baker will be lead- limited to 15 students. The camps kicked off on June ing the half-day camps at Poplar Grove.
23 with Turtletastic led by Charlie Baker. Baker is a retired science teacher who is known locally for his love of nature and of learning. After discovering facts about the life cycle and anatomy of turtles, participants were able to create paper turtles to take home. They walked to the bridge to feed the pond turtles, such as the yellow-bellied sliders, and study their features. Baker is leading several of the camps this year. “Yes, we are back at it again,” said Baker. “Actually, it’s going to be the same four things that we did last year, but I learned some things last year that worked better than others.
There are some parts we’ll do in every session, even though the titles are different. I think it’s a cool opportunity to get kids that are into spending a lot of time indoors a chance to get out for a half a day. They can just let Mother Nature be their Xbox or Nintendo. They won’t even be allowed on the path, so the kids won’t have the opportunity to refer to them.” On June 25, students will paint clay pots and help plant peanuts in the Poplar Grove garden. Then they will plant one in the decorated pots to take home, as well. The following
Continued on page 3A
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