5 minute read
WHAT’S HAPPENED
Crews Respond to Wildfire in Holly Shelter Game Lands
Pender County Emergency Management recently assisted the North Carolina Forest Service at an approximately 150acre wildfire inside the Holly Shelter Game Lands. Smoke from this fire affected the Maple Hill, Holly Ridge and other neighborhoods along the Pender County and Onslow County borders. For updates, visit the Pender County Emergency Management or Pender County Facebook pages and website.
Pender County Schools Names New Career & Technical Education Director
Pender County Schools (PCS) welcomes Dominique Bates as the new Director of Career & Technical Education. A native of Salisbury, North Carolina, Bates has been involved in education for 12 years, the last eight in CTE leadership. He comes to PCS after serving as the Interim CTE Director of Rowan Salisbury Schools. Bates’ wife, Kathryn, will join Topsail High School as an AP, pending board approval. The Bates have a four-year old daughter who joins the pre-k system this school year.
Bond Referendum Makes It to November Ballot
The Pender County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the School Bond Order Adoption & Resolution Regarding Publication of Bond Referendum, and the bond will be on the November 2022 ballot. Among the items included in the bond are a new K-5 elementary school and 6-8 middle school preferably near the Pender County-New Hanover County line to help reduce the overcrowding of the Topsail area schools. Surf City Elementary, Surf City Middle and Penderlea School were built as a result of the 2014 school bond and opened in 2018.
Pender County Veterans Affairs Offers Flag Retirement Collection Boxes
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In partnership with the National Association of Counties and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, Pender County Veterans Affairs installed a flag retirement box, at no cost to the county, at Pender County’s administration office, 805 W. Walker Street in Burgaw. A collection box was also installed at the Hampstead Annex, thanks to an Eagle Scout Project by Hayden Burns of Troop 777. The Hampstead Annex, 15060 U.S. Highway 17, is open Monday through Friday, with the exception of national holidays. The collection box is located near the main entrance to the auditorium. The United States Flag Code prescribes flag etiquette and covers everything from flying it near other flags to instructions on how to raise and lower it. “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning,” says the code. Flags should be folded respectfully before being placed in the box.
New Principal at Heide Trask High School
Gene (Tony) Hudson has been named as the new principal at Heide Trask High School (HTHS). Pender County Board of Education approved the position during the August 9 meeting and fills the vacancy created when Michael Taylor accepted the position of Chief Officer of Auxiliary Services. Most recently Hudson served as principal at West Pender Middle School (WPMS) and has been with the district since 2005. The search for a principal for WPMS is currently underway. A graduate of Wofford College, Hudson earned his Master of School Administration from East Carolina University in 2017. In his new role at HTHS Hudson’s time with Pender County Schools has come full circle — he joined the district in 2005 as a teacher and assistant coach at Heide Trask High School.
Pender County Visitor Spending Increases by 6 Percent
Domestic and international visitors to and within Pender County spent $165.29 million in 2021, an increase of 6 percent from 2020. The data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. According to the data, the tourism industry directly employs more than 924 in Pender County. The total payroll generated in Pender County’s tourism industry was $37.1 million. The state tax revenue generated in Pender County totaled $6 million through state sales and excise taxes and taxes on personal and corporate income. Approximately $8.9 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and tourismrelated businesses. The amount of local taxes generated by tourism in Pender County is significant because it equates to a savings of $243.32 per resident in Pender County. These statistics come from the Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2021, which can be accessed at partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies. The study was prepared for Visit North Carolina by Tourism Economics in collaboration with the U.S. Travel Association. Statewide, visitor spending in 2021 rebounded by 44.9 percent to reach $28.9 billion. Following the devastating pandemic-related losses of 2020, the total fell just short of the record $29.22 spent in 2019. Direct tourism employment increased 10.5 percent to 197,500.
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Pender County Commissioner Jackie Newton completed the 100 Counties Prepared Emergency Preparedness Training for County Commissioners at the N.C. Association of County Commissioners’ (NCACC) 115th Annual Conference in Cabarrus County on August 11. Commissioner Newton attended the inaugural training for this Emergency Services Training for Commissioners, which was developed by Brunswick County Commissioner Frank Williams, who saw the need for further training of elected officials in their responsibilities and duties during times of emergency.
“County governments perform a number of important functions, but the stakes are higher during an emergency,” says NCACC Past President Frank Williams.
Commissioner Newton said the state of Pender County’s Emergency Services Management team is strong. Attendees heard from N.C. Director of Emergency Management Will Ray, who gave the keynote address in which he thanked NCACC under the leadership of NCACC President Williams and the 100 Counties Prepared taskforce for the important work done on this critical initiative.
Pender County Hires New HR Director
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Pamela Brame joined Pender County administration as the new Human Resource Director on September 6. Brame, who is experienced in all aspects of governmental Human Resources, describes herself as a “good problem solver.” She will also assist with staff recruitment, retention, classifications, compensation and benefit administration, just to name a few HR duties.
