Public Notices

BURGAW — Domestic and international visitors to and within Pender County spent $131.8 million in 2020, an increase of 8 percent from 2019. The data comes from an annual study commissioned by Visit North Carolina, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

“Despite COVID-19 shutdowns and challenges from the pandemic, visitor spending increased at a remarkable 8 percent,” said Tammy Proctor, Pender County tourism director. “Pender County was only one of 14 counties in the state to garner an increase in visitor spending.”

The travel and tourism industry directly employs more than 934 in Pender County. This equates to a 2020 payroll of $34.9 million.

Pender County was one of only 20 counties statewide to see an increase in tourism-related employees.

“State tax revenue generated in Pender County totaled $5.1 million through state sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate income,” said Proctor. “About $8.1 million in local taxes were generated from sales and property tax revenue from travel-generated and travel-supported businesses.”

These statistics come from the “Economic Impact of Travel on North Carolina Counties 2020,” which can be accessed at www.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 was down 32 percent to $19.96 billion compared to 2019. Tourism employment fell 26 percent to 178,685. The losses were most acutely felt in urban areas.

“We are extremely gratified that tourism thrived in 20 counties in the face of pandemic shutdowns and other impediments to travel,” said Visit NC Director Wit Tuttell. “And despite the bad news for North Carolina as a whole, our ranking at No. 5 among states for visitation is a position of strength for rebuilding our tourism economy. Given the state’s resilience and vast appeal of its natural beauty, our creative cities and our authentic experiences at every turn, we’re confident that we’ll regain what has been lost and exceed the spending records of the recent past.”

“In Pender County, tourism is the second-leading industry,” said Proctor. “A healthy tourism industry is vital to our state and local economic health.”

Study highlights include:

• Domestic and international travelers spent $19.96 billion in North Carolina in 2020. The spending marks a 32 percent decrease from the $29.22 billion spent in 2019.
• Fourteen of the state’s 100 counties saw gains in visitor spending: Warren, Greene, Yancey, Clay, Stokes, Polk, Northampton, Pender, Ashe, Alleghany, Rutherford, Jones, Currituck, and Tyrrell.
• Visitors to North Carolina generated nearly $3.0 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2020. The total represents a 26.6 percent decrease from 2019.
• State tax receipts because of domestic visitor spending decreased 26.4 percent to more than $891.6 million in 2020.
• Local tax receipts from domestic visitor spending dropped 21 percent to $906.4 million.
• Direct tourism employment in North Carolina decreased 26 percent to 178,685.
• Twenty counties had increases in employment related to visitor spending in 2020: Warren, Greene, Clay, Stokes, Ashe, Yancey, Alleghany, Pender, Macon, Northampton, Jones, Polk, Rutherford, Montgomery, Tyrrell, Dare, Carteret, Madison, Currituck, and Swain.
• Direct tourism payroll decreased 24.5 percent to $6.4 billion.
• Visitors spend more than $54 million per day in North Carolina. That spending adds $4.9 million per day to state and local tax revenues (about $2.4 million in state taxes and $2.5 million in local taxes).
• Each North Carolina resident saves on average $170 in state and local taxes as a direct result of visitor spending in the state.
• North Carolina hosted 37 million visitors in 2020.

Burgaw – The Parks Foundation of Pender County is seeking applications for residents interested in serving on the Board of Directors. The Foundation board is expanding as the Pender County Parks and Recreation Department continues to grow.

The Parks Foundation of Pender County is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization under Section 501 (c)(3). The Board of Directors will encourage and arrange for gifts, grants, bequests, and works to further the objectives of the Foundation.

Foundation directors also serve as ambassadors for County parks and participate in and support County parks events and programs.

“We are looking for residents that are willing to serve on the board of directors for the foundation,” states Doug Shipley, Pender County assistant county manager. “We would like the members of the public to engage and assist with the work of the Foundation.”

 Residents interested in serving on the Board of Directors can apply by visiting the following link: https://form.jotform.com/210534054763047 by Dec. 1. Terms would begin in 2022.

For more information about the Parks Foundation of Pender County contact the Pender County Parks & Recreation Department at 910-259-1330 or parksandrec@pendercountync.gov.

County departments reported activities and progress on projects within the two weeks, ending today, Oct. 1.

BURGAW – The North Carolina Office of Emergency Services and North Carolina Emergency Management sent 10 strike teams to Southeast North Carolina today to assist with the large volume of emergency calls.  

“We have seen a significant increase in EMS calls,” said Stacey Wright, Division Chief. “Pender EMS & Fire joined with New Hanover, Brunswick, and Robeson counties to request assistance from NCOEMS due to call volumes and extended wait times at the ER.” 

Pender County received two strike teams. Today one team was assigned to the west side of Pender County and the other assigned to the east side.  

“After just a few hours on assignment, the crews have already responded to five calls,” said Wright.  

Pender EMS & Fire have not missed an Emergency Medical Service call, but the extra crews give the Pender EMS crews a chance to breathe.  

Division Chief Stacey Wright states that the administration of Pender EMS and Fire are extremely proud of the staff’s dedication since the COVID 19 began. The increase in calls, risk factors, hospital wait time, and long shifts have made it difficult at times but they have remained strong and dedicated to the Citizens.

“A lot of our calls are COVID-related,” said Wright. “The hospital has been extremely busy and sometimes our crews wait on average 1.5 hours. That means they are out of the area for a substantial length of time. Having the two extra crews will help us considerably.” 

The two strike teams are assigned to Pender County for the next 10 days. If the state’s offices of emergency management and emergency services feel the demand for assistance continues, they have the option of reauthorizing the teams for an additional stay. 

The state offices assigned four strike teams New Hanover; Robeson County received three teams, and Brunswick and Pender received two teams each.  

“We appreciate the assistance,” said Wright. “It gives our crews a chance to catch their breath.” 

For emergency services, dial 911. For questions, call 910-259-0891. 

Hampstead – Pender County Parks and Recreation has planned a new Fall event entitled Kick or Treat for all to enjoy this October.

 The upcoming Kick or Treat fall event will be held at Hampstead Kiwanis Park Saturday, Oct. 23. This event will include a food truck rodeo, live music, and a pumpkin decorating contest along with a Halloween-themed kickball tournament.

 “We are excited to offer this new Fall event in Pender County,” said Zachary White, Parks and Recreation Supervisor. ” We invite you to this family-friendly day in the park with a fun added twist to a kickball tournament.” 

 Food Trucks 12 to 5 p.m.

Kickball Tournament 1 to 4 p.m.

Live Music 1 to 4 p.m.

 Hampstead Kiwanis Park is located at, 586 Sloop Point Loop Rd, Hampstead, NC 28443.

 The Halloween kickball tournament will begin at 1 p.m. on Oct. 23. Costumes are encouraged, kickball teams can be made up of 6-15 people per team. Prizes for the single-elimination tournament will be awarded for the best-dressed team and best-dressed individual along with the winning team. The kickball team registration fee is $50, and preregistration is required.

 To register or view complete rules for the kickball tournament please visit: https://penderpr.recdesk.com/Community/Program or contact Pender County Parks and Recreation at 910-259-1330.

BURGAW- On Saturday, Oct. 9, at 12 p.m., Pender County Library will host online a panel of genealogists and historians for a discussion of the role of men of color from southeastern North Carolina in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.

During the hour-long event, to be hosted online via Zoom, three genealogist-historians will tell the story of their ancestors.

Men of color have defined America every step of the way, always in “the room where it happened”: Crispus Attucks, an African & Indigenous man who participated in the street protest known as the Boston Tea Party and was killed by British troops; two men of color named Primus Jacobs—one a formerly enslaved man in Massachusetts, one a third-generation member of a free family of color in North Carolina—both of whom fought in the Revolutionary War; and the many men of color, free and enslaved, who fought on both sides of the Civil War as volunteers and as abductees. Men of color conceived, created, and corrected America alongside their white countrymen, kinsmen, and enslavers.

The presenters include genealogist-historians Tyrone Goodwyn, Luke Alexander, and Kevin Eugene Graham.

Tyrone Goodwyn has researched free persons of color of southeastern North Carolina for over forty years. He concentrates on Pender, New Hanover, Sampson, Duplin, Wayne, and Cumberland counties.

Luke Alexander is a genealogist and community historian with a focus on African American and Indigenous heritage in the Carolinas.

Kevin Eugene Graham is President of the Lower Cape Fear Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, the first African American to hold the office. His research has focused on free families of color from the counties of Bladen, Columbus, New Hanover, Robeson, Pender, and Sampson prior to the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.

Register online at https://bit.ly/pcl1009, or go to the library’s website, www.penderpubliclibrary.org, and follow the links under the Events tab. You can also call the library and staff will take your registration by phone.

The event will be hosted on Zoom. There is no need to have a Zoom account; just click the link provided in the confirmation email and follow the prompts to download Zoom. The talk can be viewed on smartphones, tablets, or computers. Registration is required.

For more information or assistance, call Pender County Library at 910-259-1234 (Burgaw) or 910-270-4603 (Hampstead) during regular business hours.

BURGAW – Pender County property owners can expect to see their tax bills in their mailboxes shortly.

However, residents do not have to wait to review the bill. It is available now online.

“Visit the county website at pendercountync.gov/taxbill,” said Pender County Tax Administrator Justian Pound.

The Pender County Tax Collections office is responsible for the collection of all property taxes levied by Pender County and the municipalities of Burgaw, Watha, St. Helena, and Atkinson. Property tax bills disclose the taxable value, as well as the tax rate for EMS, Fire, and Solid Waste.

North Carolina law prohibits exemptions from solid waste fees. Pender County’s solid waste fee is $220. If a resident pays for private trash curbservice, the county’s fee is $110 for recycling only. This appears on the tax bill.

Pound said Pender County taxpayers should contact the tax office with questions or adjustments. He said the dedicated staff in the tax department will respond promptly to all telephone calls. The tax office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a..m. – 5 p.m.

“Penalties and Interest does not begin until early January 5, 2022,” said Pound. He cautions folks, “try not to wait until the end of the year, paying early will allow you to avoid the late-season rush. As we approach the end of the year, our office will extend hours to serve members of the community who want to pay their tax bill in person.”

Tax bills do not require a trip to the tax office, located at 300 E. Fremont St. in Burgaw. Taxes may be paid online, by phone or via mail and can be accepted any time of day by using the dropbox located in front of the tax office.

“The Pender County Tax Collections Office is dedicated to serving the citizens with the utmost respect, an outstanding level of service, and to provide quality information,” said George Brown, Chairman of the Pender County Board of County Commissioners.

The Tax Collectors Office is solely responsible for the collection of taxes and fees. Any questions regarding listing, billing, and assessed values should be directed to the Tax Assessor’s Office by phoning 910-259-1221.