Public Notices

BURGAW – Pender County EMS and Fire received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Plus Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.

“This is the second year Pender EMS and Fire has received the highest award for Mission: Lifeline,” said Woodrow Sullivan, Pender EMS and Fire Chief.

Every year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart. This requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.

“We focus on the training requirement to determine early recognition and transport to the proper facility,” said David Dudding, Pender EMS and Fire’s training battalion chief. “A patient experiencing this type of episode has a 90-minute window to receive the proper treatment. We train with the knowledge that time is of the essence.”

The Mission: Lifeline EMS recognition program honors emergency medical services for their efforts in improving systems of care to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify the medical center and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.

Pender EMS and Fire provides optimal care for heart attack patients,” said Sullivan. “We are pleased to be recognized – for the second year – for our dedication and achievements in emergency medical care efforts through Mission: Lifeline.”

“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said Tim Henry, M.D. chair of the Mission: Lifeline Acute Coronary Syndrome subcommittee. “Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can save precious minutes of treatment by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals to an incoming heart attack patient. We applaud Pender EMS and Fire for achieving this award in following evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”

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The Pender County Fire Marshal announced the lifting of the County burning ban effective today, Monday, June 10, 2019 at 5pm.

Persons choosing to burn must still use caution. Fire officials recommend that anyone burning have resources immediately available to control their fire. Those resources include water hoses, buckets of water, and hand tools. Should a fire become out of control, individuals need to immediately contact the local fire department for assistance by calling 911.

The lifting of the burning ban will allow for individuals to utilize open burning for disposal of vegetative debris that has been generated on their property. This includes items such as leaves, straw, lawn clippings, shrubbery clippings, and sticks and branches. Garbage, lumber, building materials, cardboard paper and rubber are never allowed to be burned. These items must be disposed of at solid waste convenience sites located throughout the county. Anyone found to be burning non-vegetative will be cited for illegal burning.

Persons needing more information about open burning regulations in Pender County can contact the Pender County Fire Marshal at 910-259-1210 or the Pender County Headquarters for the NC Division of Forest Resources at 910-259-7251. Websites at www.penderem.com or www.ncforestservice.gov

BURGAW – Pender County Board of Commissioners and the county’s emergency management personnel are reviewing a proposed plan to bring an AM radio station online.

“When a major storm blows into the Pender County region and power is lost, an AM station is a solution to reach the entire county during an emergency,” said Tom Collins, Pender County Emergency manager.

Covering a county that is more than 900 square miles is no easy task. It will take three stationary antenna and two portable units to reach the entire county with an emergency message.

“The frequencies are licensed by the FCC and approved,” said Collins.

Commissioners like the idea of a county-wide emergency system that will be operated from one control station, with the ability to change messages quickly. The system the commissioners reviewed allows the same message to appear on the county website or in text format.

The system costs more than $285,000. The system offers a lifetime warranty, installation, three fixed antenna, frequency stabilizer, wireless links for transmissions and receiving, solar powered portable stations, boosters, and more.

Collins said the broadcast station would transmit reliable emergency alerts before, during, and after a natural disaster.

“When cell phone batteries fail and the power is out, the old fashioned transmission radio is a reliable tool to receive emergency information,” said George Brown, chairman of the Pender County Board of Commissioners.

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BURGAW –  The office of the Pender County Register of Deeds offers passport services in their Burgaw office, 300 E. Freemont Street.

“You don’t have to leave the county to apply for a US Passport,” said Sharon Willoughby, the register of deeds. “We also provide passport photos for only $10.”

Willoughby said the office is a local one-stop for applications and photos.

US citizens planning international travel should make an appointment with the register of deeds office. Walk-in applicants are welcomed, if staff is available to assist.

Willoughby urges citizens to make an appointment to receive personalized assistance.

“We are here to help you with your passport needs,” said Willoughby.

The office of the Pender County Register of Deeds is open Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

For more information call 910-259-1225.

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BURGAW – Five Pender County events and festivals took home honors from the NC Association of Festivals and Events (NCAFE) Annual ShowFest in Charlotte. NCAFE recognizes outstanding events and festivals from across the state.

“We are pleased to announce Pender County’s events and festivals brought home more awards than any other county in North Carolina,” said Olivia Dawson, who represented Pender County Tourism at ShowFest.

The award winners are:

Best Event Poster (Small): October Paranormal Ghost Tours, Poplar Grove Plantation

Best Festival Social Media: NC Bacon Festival, Rocky Point Festivals Committee

Best Sponsorship Packet: Ocean City Jazz Festival, Topsail Island

Supporting Member of the Year: David Crooks with Airplay Events

Festival Director of the Year: Olivia Dawson, 2018 Blueberry Festival

“All of our Events and Festivals are unique and make an economic impact upon our area,” said Tammy Proctor, Pender County Tourism director.

Stephanie Key, Pender County Tourism assistant, prepared the nominations for Pender County Tourism. She reported that events such as Ghost Walk: Ghosts of Pender’s Past, Autumn with Topsail, and Topsail Island Jeep Week among several others were strong state-wide competitors.

“In addition to our winners, we thank all our events, festivals, chambers, and towns for making Pender County events some of the best events in North Carolina,” said Dawson.

For more information contact the Pender County Tourism Office at 910-259-1278.

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CUTLINE: Pictured is Olivia Dawson, who won the Festival Director of the Year award from NCAFE, with David Crooks of the NC Bacon Fest and AirPlay Events.  They are holding the five NCAFE Awards Trophies presented to Pender County events.