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The Pender-Topsail
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Thursday, July 27, 2017
In this edition... Hampstead neighborhood Belvedere is experiencing water problems while the company operating the system seeks a rate increase. County commissioners are getting involved. Read more on page 1A. Former Topsail Pirate baseball standout Danny Wilson is back locally on the diamond with the Wilmington Sharks. Read more in Sports on page 8A.
The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
Volume 47, No. 42
50 Cents
Pender DA Ben David mulls possible criminal charges
Governor pledges help with GenX problem By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher After a Monday meeting in Wilmington with local, state and federal officials, Governor Roy Cooper announced next steps that the state will take to protect the drinking water in the Lower Cape Fear. Pender County Commission Chairman George Brown attended the Wilmington meeting with the Governor Cooper directed the State Bureau of Investigation’s Diversion and Environmental Crimes Unit to assess whether a criminal investigation
is warranted. The SBI will work with its partners at the state Department of Environmental Quality and federal EPA to determine if there is evidence of criminal violations of the permit or the federal consent order that is in place. Pender DA involved In a joint statement from District Attorneys Ben and Jon David, the offices for the fifth and thirteenth prosecutorial districts will work closely with local, state, and federal officials to determine if there is evidence of criminal violations. “Our offices are closely monitoring this situation because the Cape Fear River, the source
Nov. 7 ballot
of the drinking water for our region, flows through four of the five counties we collectively represent; namely Bladen, Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender. Moreover, as elected district attorneys, we have overlapping and concurrent jurisdiction involving any applicable state criminal laws. We will continue to assess all the information as it becomes available.” Chemours permit review Chemours is in the process of applying for a new NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit, a federal permit program that controls water pollution and is managed by North Carolina DEQ. Cooper an-
nounced that DEQ will deny Chemours’ permit request to release GenX, issuing a new draft permit that prevents GenX release. Acknowledging the potential for other possibly harmful compounds, Chemours’ draft permit will include a clause authorizing the state to quickly re-open the permit if needed to regulate and enforce levels of any of emerging compounds based on new scientific findings. Public Health Assessment Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said
Continued on page 2A
North Carolina mountain sunset
Candidates file for local municipal elections By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher The slate of candidates for the Nov. 7 municipal elections in Pender County is complete. The filing period closed at noon July 21 for the fall election. Atkinson Christie Halligan and Ken Smith will be on the ballot for mayor of Atkinson. Filing for town commissioner positions are Lorie Moore Floyd, Michael Stealer, Dee Turner, and Julie Woodcock. Burgaw Former Burgaw mayor Pete Cowan has filed for mayor, along with Johnnie Tyrone Stringfield and Jeffrey Williams II. For commissioner, Jan Dawson and James Lorenzer Murphy Sr. have filed. Burgaw Mayor Eugene Mulligan will not seek reelection as mayor, but has filed for a seat on the town board. St. Helena Robert Barnhill Sr. is the lone candidate for mayor in St. Helena. Margaret Hulak Brinzey and Judith “Judy” Katalinic are running for seats on the village council. Surf City A number of candidates have filed for seats on the Surf City town council. Teresa Batson Batts, Sani Lowry, Dorothy Royal, Jeremy Shugarts, Peter Sloan, and Donna Thigpen have all filed. Topsail Beach Six candidates have filed for a seat on the Topsail Beach town board. E. Morton Blanchard, Julian Bone, Tom
Continued on page 3A
Staff photo by Katie H. Pettigrew
Far from the flatlands of eastern North Carolina, Post & Voice Advertising and Design Director Katie H. Pettigrew took this photo of a mountain sunset over Lake Junaluska.
BOC, Millis help with Belvedere water
issues
By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
Pender County Commissioners George Brown and David Williams sent a letter to the North Carolina Utilities Commission regarding problems with the Belvedere water system. Utilities, Inc., the private company which operates the water system, is seeking a rate hike from the state commission. Williams says Belvedere residents have experienced a number of problems with water. In the letter to the Utilities Commission, Williams and Brown ask that any rate
ITʼS TIME TO GET -
increase consideration be make sure Utilities Inc. does postponed until repairs to the better. We don’t have official system are made. standing with the commisPush Mowers Lawnsion, Tractors Turn “Recently they were• putbut I like•toZero think we can Trimmers & Chainsaws ting in a new well, and the get their ear. I don’t think it is other well went down and the a water safety issue as much water went brown,” Williams as a quality issue,” said Wilsaid. “Chris Millis has been liams. in communication with the The text of the letter sent Utilities Commission. We are by Williams and Brown to going to try to advocate on the Utilities Commission is behalf of those folks.” below. Williams said county comWe understand that Utilimissioners along with Millis ties Inc. has a request for a have no direct authority in rate increase for the Belvedere the water situation, only in- Plantation system which will fluence. be heard at your August 23, “We want to do all we can to 2017 meeting. For the first time
in our combined service of over thirty years as County Commissioners, we are submitting a letMowers ter in opposition to a requested rate increase. We recognize that authority to approve or deny rate increases is vested solely in your Commission, but hope that you will consider this letter in your deliberations. The customers of Utilities Inc. have experienced multiple service issues including pressure problems and discolored water which made cleaning themselves, their dishes and
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Continued on page 2A
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