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Public Notices

Governor Cooper Seeks Federal Disaster Declaration Ahead of Historic Hurricane Florence

Urges North Carolinians: “Get ready now.”

RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper today asked for a federal disaster declaration on behalf of North Carolina to ensure the state can get federal aid as soon as possible.

In a letter sent this morning to President Donald Trump, Gov. Cooper made the request for federal help due to Hurricane Florence which is forecast to hit the state as an unprecedented hurricane later this week.

With the latest forecast showing Florence bearing down on North Carolina and intensifying in strength, Governor Cooper today urged North Carolina residents, businesses and visitors to take the threat posed by Hurricane Florence seriously, plan accordingly and get ready now.

“The forecast places North Carolina in the bull’s eye of Hurricane Florence, and the storm is rapidly getting stronger,” Governor Cooper said. “When weather forecasters tell us “life threatening,” we know it’s serious. We are bracing for a hard hit.”

As the forecast becomes clearer, Florence poses three challenges: coastal storm surge, strong winds and inland flooding that inundates rivers and low-lying ground, Cooper said.

Florence is a rapidly strengthening hurricane that may make landfall between Southport and Wilmington as early as sometime Friday morning. Tropical storm level winds may be felt as early as Wednesday. The forecast shows the potential for very heavy rainfall across much of North Carolina.

“Florence is a threat well beyond the coast, so inland counties need to be ready as well,” Gov. Cooper said.

State officials continue to prepare for potential impacts from a major hurricane later this week:

  • North Carolina remains under a State of Emergency, declared by Gov. Cooper Friday. The governor also temporarily waived certain restrictions for trucks and heavy vehicles to help farmers harvest and move crops and livestock ahead of the storm and help utilities and other equipment be ready to respond if needed.
  • North Carolina Emergency Management experts are working today to place resources ahead of the storm. The State Emergency Operations Center was activated Monday at 1:00 PM, and NCEM is coordinating with the counties, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and key partners in the State Emergency Response Team which includes all state agencies plus utility representatives, private sector partners and volunteer agencies active during disasters.
  • Preparations are underway by N.C. Department of Transportation crews in all 100 counties in the state. The department has 2,166 employees ready for what Florence may bring and for the cleanup afterward. Those workers have 1,284 trucks, 1,086 chain saws, 147 front loaders, 219 motor graders, and 202 backhoes at their disposal. In anticipation of likely road closings from floodwater, downed trees and other debris, DOT has 2,877 barricades, 1,488 road closed signs and 2,853 high water signs available.

“We are working closely with the National Hurricane Center and FEMA and our other partners and leveraging that wealth of experience to ensure we can respond to any need,” state Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry said. “We are also working closely with our county and SERT partners to ensure all resource requests are met. We ask the public to stay tuned to local forecasts and follow instructions from your local emergency officials and to have a plan for yourself and your family members, including your pets.”

North Carolinians are urged to use the next couple of days to get ready for the storm, including reviewing emergency plans and gathering supplies.
Tips for Emergency Plans and Supplies Kit:

  • Gather your emergency supply kits with enough bottled water and non-perishable food to sustain each family member for three to seven days. Include a weather radio, flashlight, extra batteries, toiletries, change of clothes, blankets or sleeping bag, rain gear and appropriate footwear. Also include cell phone charger, prescription medicines, copies of important documents, such as birth certificates and insurance policies.
  • Know your evacuation route, and find out where friends and loved ones will be and how to get in touch with them.
  • Plan for your pets. Gather supplies for your pets and put them in an easily-accessible container.
  • Prepare your home. Clean out gutters and clear property of debris that could damage buildings in strong winds.
  • Stay tuned to local news for the latest advisories from the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center (NHC), as well as state and local emergency management officials.

Download the Ready NC app or follow NC Emergency Management on Facebook and Twitter for weather updates and to learn how you can prepare for the storm.

Pender County Emergency Managements reminds residents it’s time to prepare

PENDER COUNTY – The Pender County Office of Emergency Management (EOC) urges residents to use this weekend to prepare.

“The Atlantic is currently active with storms,” said Tom Collins, Pender County Emergency Manager. “This is the time to prepare. If you don’t have a hurricane emergency kit, this is the time to assemble one. Have batteries, plenty of drinking water, medications, cash, and propane in stock.”

Collins said the EOC has been updating its internal systems in preparation of a storm.

“This is the time to prepare,” said Collins. “We prepare, regardless of how the Atlantic storms track in the next few days.”

Collins said a checklist of supplies is available online at www.readync.org. The app is free for downloading. Pender County residents should also sign up for CodeRed, a free alert system in Pender County.

“When preparing, keep in mind the items you need to maintain your health and safety,” said Collins.

Have the basic things in your emergency supplies kit:

  • Extra eyeglasses, hearing aids if you have them or have coverage for them.
  • Battery chargers and extra batteries for hearing aids, motorized wheelchairs or other battery-operated medical or assistive technology devices.
  • Copies of medical prescriptions, doctors’ orders and the style and serial numbers of the support devices you use.
  • Medical alert tags or bracelets or written descriptions of your disability and support needs, if you cannot tell someone about your needs in an emergency.
  • Supplies for your service animal.
  • Medical insurance cards, Medicare/Medicaid cards, physician contact information, list of your allergies and health history.
  • List of the local non-profit or community-based groups that know you or help people with access and functional needs like yours.
  • List of personal contacts, family and friends that you may need to get in touch with in an emergency.
  • Covered personal communication board, if you might need assistance with being understood.
  • If possible, extra medicine, oxygen, insulin, catheters or other medical supplies you use on a normal basis.
  • If you use a motorized wheelchair, have a light weight manual chair available for emergencies. Know the size, weight and if it is collapsible, in case it must be moved to another place.
  • Even if you do not use a computer yourself, think about putting important facts onto a flash drive for you to take with you if you need to leave your house.

Pender County Emergency Management will post updates on the Facebook page at facebook.com/penderem and on the website http://www.penderem.com. If you need assistance call the EM office at 910- 259-1210.

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Holly Shelter Shooting Sports 4-H Club Members Compete, Win at Regional Tournament

BURGAW –  Several members from Pender County’s Holly Shelter Shooting Sports 4-H Club competed and placed at the 2018 Eastern Regional 4-H Shooting Sports Tournament, hosted by the Eastern 4-H Center in Columbia, Aug, 25

Pender County 4-H members advancing to the 2018 North Carolina 4-H State Shooting Sports Tournament are Baylen Lucas, Will Jordan, Jade Mills, Austin Mauldin, Alex Buie, Ryan Fore, Jordyn Lewis, Hudson Roberts, Jacob Ramsey, Ryan Lewis, Tyler Burdick, Wyatt Carson, Gareth Porter, Brock Morton, and William Roberts. They will travel to Ellerbe to compete at the Millstone 4-H Camp.

“Our 4-H teams were strong in all 21 categories,” Liz Peterson, the Pender County 4-H program coordinator.

The following Pender County 4-H competitors won awards and recognition in the following categories:

Senior Shotgun Individual Competition: Gareth Porter, first place; Brock Morton, third place.

Senior Shotgun Individual Overall: Gareth Porter, second place.

Senior Shotgun Individuals advancing to State: Tyler Burdick, 18th Overall.

Junior Muzzleloading Individual Competition: Hudson Roberts, 4th place; Ryan Fore, fifth place.

Senior Muzzleloading Individual Competition: Wyatt Carson, first place; William Roberts, second place; Ryan Lewis, fourth place; Alex Buie, fifth place.

Senior Muzzleloading Individuals also advancing to State include Gareth Porter, who placed 16th overall, and Baylen Lucas, who placed 20th overall.

Junior Rifle – Open Sight Individual Competition: Jacob Ramsey, third place.

Junior Rifle Individuals also advancing to State: Hudson Roberts, who placed 16th overall.

Junior Rifle – Telescopic Individual Competition: Jacob Ramsey, second place.

Senior Riffle – Open Sight Individual Competition: Wyatt Carson, first place; William Roberts, second place.

Senior Rifle – Open Sight Individual Overall: Wyatt Carson, first place; William Roberts, second place.

Senior Rifle – Open Sight Individuals also advancing to State: Baylen Lucas, who placed 11th overall.

Senior Rifle – Telescopic Individual Competition: Ryan Lewis, second place; Gareth Porter, third place.

Senior Rifle – Telescopic Individuals also advancing to State: William Roberts, 14th overall.

Senior Archery Compound Match Individual Competition: William Roberts, third place; Gareth Porter, fifth place.

Senior Archery Compound Hunter/Sporter Individual Competition: Austin Mauldin, second place; Jade Mills, fourth place; Jordan Will, fifth place.

Senior Archery Compound Hunter/Sporter Individuals also advancing to State: Alex Buie, 11th overall; Gareth Porter, 14th overall; Jordyn Lewis, 15th overall.

Senior .22 Small Bore Pistol Individual Competition: Wyatt Carson, first place; Baylen Lucas, third place; Tyler Burdick, fifth place.

Senior .22 Small Bore Pistol Individual Overall: Wyatt Carson, first place.

Senior .22 Small Bore Pistol Individuals also advancing to State: Alex Buie, 13th overall; William Roberts, 14th overall; Ryan Lewis, 16 overall.

For more information on the 4-H program in Pender County please contact 4-H Agent, Liz Peterson at 910-259-1235 or liz_peterson@ncsu.edu.

4-H is North Carolina’s largest youth development organization, equipping more than 263,000 young people each year with the skills to succeed and improve the world around them. 4-H programs and camps encourage young people to “learn by doing,” helping them to develop into active, contributing citizens. N.C. State Extension and the Cooperative Extension Program at N.C. A&T State University coordinate 4-H programs statewide

NC State Extension is the local and statewide outreach provider of North Carolina’s preeminent research enterprise – N.C. State University. N.C. State Extension translates research-based knowledge in the areas of agriculture, food and nutrition, and 4-H youth development into everyday solutions that create economic, intellectual and societal prosperity for North Carolina.

2018 Regional Shooting Sports Competitors

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Hampstead Bypass fully funded

HAMPSTEAD – The Hampstead Bypass is fully funded and moving ahead, announced Pender County Commissioner David Piepmeyer.

“The funding, approximately $113 million, for construction of both sections of the Hampstead Bypass has finally been formally approved,” said Piepmeyer. “While design of both sections is in its final stages and land acquisition is well underway, this clears the path to allow construction to being in 2020 with completion coming in 2025.”

The Hampstead Bypass design is 13-miles of four lane divided highway. According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the “A” Section of the bypass connects I-140 to NC 210. The second section, known as the “B” Section, links NC 210 to US 17 north of Topsail High School.

“This is the biggest project in Division 3 and it is being funded in large part because of the regional support it received from the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) as well as the NCDOT Division 2 and Division 3,” said Piepmeyer, who represents Pender County on the WMPO. He serves as the current chairman of the WMPO.

“I know 2025 seems like a long time in the future, but this has been greatly accelerated and is a much better date than was forecasted in the original plan,” said Piepmeyer.

“The Hampstead bypass along with the safety improvements on Business US 17 will alleviate pressure and help prevent crashes along almost all of the US 17 corridor in Pender County,” said David Williams, Pender County commissioner who previously served on the WMPO. “Safety has always been our driver on this project.”

For additional information regarding the Hampstead Bypass visit https://www.ncdot.gov.

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING RELATIVE TO APPLICATION BY PENDER COUNTY FOR FUNDING UNDER THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED

Notice is hereby given that the Pender County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on October 1, 2018, at 4:00 PM, or as soon thereafter as the agenda will allow, at the Public Assembly Room located at 805 South Walker Street, Burgaw, NC 28425, to solicit public input on local community development needs in relation to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for a project in the community. The public hearing is rescheduled due to the impact of Hurricane Florence.

In October 2018, Pender County will submit a CDBG-NR application to the NC Department of Commerce for funds to assist low- and-moderate income households who reside in the County. Citizens will also be given the opportunity to provide oral and written comment on Pender County’s use of CDBG funds.  The application submission date has been extended due to the impact of Hurricane Florence. All interested citizens are encouraged to attend.

All project activities will serve households with incomes at or below 80% of the Pender County median income for appropriate household size. The proposed budget includes the following housing-related CDBG activities:

Rehabilitation                              $675,000
Program Administration           $ 75,000
Total Project Budget                   $750,000

The County will make every effort to minimize displacement; however, all applicable requirements of 49CFR24 and 24CFR570 related to the proposed rehabilitation and reconstruction activities will be implemented, and temporary relocation assistance will be available to owners who are displaced from their residences during construction activity.

For additional information or to submit written comments, contact Ms. Judy Herring, Pender County Housing Director, PO Box 1149, Burgaw, NC 28425. Comments should be postmarked by September 25, 2018.

Persons with disabilities or who otherwise need assistance should contact Randell Woodruff, County Manager, at 910-259-1200 (TDD # 919/807-4420 or Relay North Carolina TTY# 1-800-735-2962) by Thursday, September 26, 2018. Accommodations will be made for all who request assistance with participating in the public hearing.

This information is available in Spanish or any other language upon request. Please contact Judy Herring, Pender County Housing Director, at 910/259-1208, or at the Housing Authority, 805 S. Walker Street, Burgaw, NC, for accommodations for this request.

Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Judy Herring, Pender County Housing Director, al 910/259-1208 o en Housing Authority, 805 S. Walker Street, Burgaw, NC, de alojamiento para esta solicitud.

International Overdose Awareness Day

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day.

This is a global event held on August 31st each year which aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of drug overdose.

The tragedy of overdose is far too frequent, but is ultimately preventable.

Click the link to find out more https://www.overdoseday.com/

Take a hike and celebrate the birthday of the MST

BURGAW – On Friday, Sept. 7, join neighbors and co-workers on the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) Birthday Hike along the Osgood Canal and greenway. Hikers will pick up the looped trail nearest their home or workplace and hike around Historic Downtown Burgaw.

“What started as a hike around town with friends has become a community event,” said Tammy Proctor, Pender County tourism director.

Partnering with Burgaw Parks and Rec, the Birthday Hike includes hikers from Pender Memorial Hospital, the Pender County Health Department, and Cape Fear Community College and various county offices.

“The walk will kick off around noon,” said Zach White, director of Burgaw Parks and Rec. “There’s no fee. Just take a hike!”

Pender County Tourism will have a sign-in sheet set up at Johnson Park on Walker Street. Photos of hikers will be snapped at the tent and sent to the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail staff.

The Mountains to Sea Trail, which traverses more than 1,170 miles from Clingman’s Dome to Jockey’s Ridge State Park, crosses into Pender County from Bladen County, through historic Burgaw, Holly Shelter Game Land, Hampstead and into Surf City. The trail continues along the beach into North Topsail Beach.

For additional information, contact the Pender County Tourism office at 910-259-1536. For more information about the MST visit mountainstoseatrail.org

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Mountains To Sea Trail Poster

Visitor Spending up 5.14 percent, totaling $97.05 million

BURGAW – Visit North Carolina announced today that domestic visitors to and within Pender County spent $97.05 million in 2017, an increase of 5.14 percent from 2016.

“This is significant for Pender County,” said Tammy Proctor, Pender County tourism director. “Tourism in Pender County generated $18.03 million in payroll for more than 840 employees in the hospitality and tourism-related businesses.”

State tax revenue generated in Pender County totaled $4.67 through state sales and excise taxes on personal and corporate income. An estimated $6.81 million in local taxes was generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.

“Pender County’s outstanding attractions and beaches have received national attention,” said Proctor. “This county’s natural resources, historic sites, and events and festivals have a lot to offer visitors throughout the year.”

Gov. Roy Cooper announced in May that visitors to North Carolina set a record for spending in 2017. The $23.99 billion in total spending represented an increase of 4.2 percent from 2016. Pender County’s visitor spending outpaced the state in 2017.

To view the 2017 Economic Impact study, conducted by U.S. Travel Association, go to partners.visitnc.com/economic-impact-studies.

Pender County Hires New Parks and Rec Director

BURGAW – Pender County Manager Randell Woodruff announced the hiring of Doug Shipley as the director of the county’s new parks and recreation department.

Shipley, of Wilmington, has a master’s degree in sports management from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary’s College in Maryland. He has extensive experience in athletic and recreation facility management, recreation management, and event management.

“This is a new director position in Pender County,” said Woodruff. “Mr. Shipley has the skills and experience to bring recreational programming and park development to the residents of Pender County.”

“I have experience spanning two decades in the parks and recreation field,” said Shipley. “I look forward to contributing to the development of the Pender County Parks and Recreation Department.”

Pender County is expanding the parks and recreation department to grow programs and activities for all the county’s growing population.

Pender County currently operates three parks – Hampstead Kiwanis Park, Miller’s Pond, and Pender Memorial Park ballfields. Additionally, Pender County operates the Holly Shelter Shooting Range in conjunction with North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission.

For more information regarding Pender County’s parks system call 910-259-1330 or visit online at https://pendercountync.gov.

Ghost Walk tickets on sale now

BURGAW – Tickets are on sale now for the award-winning Ghost Walk: Ghosts of Pender’s Past, a haunting tour of Historic Burgaw. Tickets may be purchased at the Pender County Tourism office, 106 E. Wilmington St., Burgaw 28425. Tickets may also be ordered via phone with a credit card by calling 910-259-1278.

Ghost Walk: Ghosts of Pender’s Past returns Oct. 12-13 with two shows each night, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 per adult; students ages 6-17 are $5 each; children under the age of 5 are admitted free with an adult.

In its third consecutive year, the ghost walk is a sell-out event.

“We encourage visitors to purchase tickets in advance,” said Tammy Proctor, Pender County tourism director. “We hate to turn people away on the night of the shows.”

“Again, we have new ghost stories,” said Stephanie Key, the art director of the ghost walk. “Two of our stories feature films shot in Burgaw – Silver Bullet and I Know What You Did Last Summer. I’m sure there will be a werewolf or two roaming the streets of Burgaw.”

Ghost Walk: Ghosts of Pender’s Past is a collaborative effort of volunteers from Pender County Historical Society, Historical Society of Topsail Island, Poplar Grove Plantation, Pender Arts Council, Moores Creek National Battlefield, the Town of Burgaw, and the Pender County Library.

For more information contact the Pender County Tourism Office at 910-259-1536.

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