Learning about farms 4H campers summer campers visited farms around Pender County to learn about different aspects of farm production. Read about it on page 3A.
POST Voice The Pender-Topsail
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Fall sports begin Aug. 1 Pender County high school fall sports teams will officially begin practices Aug. 1. Read about the fall sports programs coming up on page 1B.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Volume 43, No. 43
The Media of Record for the People of Pender County
50 Cents
County files late audit, hires interim manager Benton stays on as consultant
By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher Pender County officials have filed the 2012-13 audit with the Local Government Commission, according to former county manager Rick Benton. The audit was supposed to be filed with the LGC in October 2013. Benton, who is working with the county as a consultant, says the auditor delivered a draft of the county audit to him and the LGC Friday. “He delivered it Friday just to get it out. But he is getting all the signatures on it at this point and making a final copy to get to the LGC and us
today (Monday),” Benton said. “The audit has been completed and submitted to the county and the Local Government Commission.” Benton says an accounting firm was hired in March to come and prepare the books for the audit. A different company is used to perform the audit. “The auditor has to be independent. The auditor can’t prepare the books and reconcile everything and then perform the audit itself,” Benton said. “The audit will be sent to the LGC and they will review it and respond with any questions they have.” County officials can now turn their attention to the 2013-14 year audit, which will be due in
October of this year. “The commissioners have on their Aug. 4 agenda approval of a contract with the company to perform the audit for the 2013-14 year. They will use the same firm to come in and reconcile the books and prepare for the audit,” Benton said. Benton said it was not the county’s procedure in the past to hire an accounting firm to come in and prepare the books for the annual audit. “In the past the finance officer from the county along with staff have done that work,”
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Peaceful morning reflections
Interim County Manager Bob Murphy
School bond meetings are next week
The Pender County Board of Education will hold three public information sessions regarding the proposed $75 million school bond. The meetings will give the public the opportunity to see plans for school expansion and renovation and ask school officials questions. The meetings will be at 6 p.m. at the following locations: •July 28 at Trask High School •July 29 at Topsail High School •July 31 at Pender High School Pender County Commissioners approved the School Board’s request July 7 to put the $75 million bond proposal on the November ballot.
Willarlea Ruritans plan Penderlea festival Aug. 16 By Lori Kirkpatrick Contributing Writer
is left to the association, will all be available to choose from as we move into 2015,” he said. Pollak said that the first section consisting of 42 lots will soon be finished, and within 90 days an additional 56 lots will be ready for construction of homes. Roads will be completed within 30 days, and there will be different sections with a variety of amenities. A meeting is scheduled for this week with government officials to discuss creating a pedestrian connection from Doral Drive to the new Wyndwater development. There are plans for 70-75 custom lots on the south side of Sloop Point going into next year, and
The Willarlea Ruritan Club will sponsor a new event to bring the Penderlea community together. The Penderlea 1st Annual Ruritan Fair and Festival is scheduled for Aug. 16 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. It will take place at the Willarlea Ruritan Club on Eleanor Roosevelt Lane, located next to Penderlea “The festival will bring School in Wilthe community closer lard. together and people will June Robhave the opportunity to bins, Presimeet new folks...” dent of the June Robbins Willarlea Willarlea Ruritan Club Ruritan club, said that the festival will offer the northern section of Pender County some needed entertainment. She said it is not a fundraising event, but a community get-together to encourage fellowship. “The Willarlea Ruritan Club began this project as a Hunting Expo and it turned into a fair and festival. The Ruritans felt we needed a festival for northern Pender County. We wanted to celebrate our 61st birthday and help the community in which we live,” said Robbins. “The festival will bring the community closer together, and people will have the opportunity to meet new folks that live in our wonderful neighborhood that we call home,” she continued. All area residents are invited to come out and join in the fun during the First Annual Penderlea Fair and Festival. The Willarlea Ruritan Club is a volunteer service organization serving northern
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Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
The still waters of Shelter Creek reflect the trees on a quiet Pender County morning. The dock on Shelter Creek is located beside Hollands Shelter Creek Restaurant on N.C. 53 east of Burgaw.
Old golf course in Hampstead to become Wyndwater
Topsail Greens takes on a new life By Lori Kirkpatrick Contributing Writer The for mer Topsail Greens Golf Course in Hampstead off of Highway 17 is steadily being transformed into a new development named Wyndwater. Following the closing of the 40-year-old golf course last year, developers David Greer and Mike Pollak purchased the property several months ago with plans for residential and commercial purposes. Greer also developed Pecan Grove and more recently, The Walk at Sloop Point, a nearby 45-lot neighborhood located near Kiwanis Park. After success in those ventures, he and Pollak
“The rolling terrain, mature trees and water features create a setting unlike anything that has been developed in Hampstead in the past.” Wyndwater developer Mike Pollak
thought the Topsail Greens area would thrive as well. Two thirds of the 154-acre golf course will eventually be occupied by 300-400 residential homes starting in the mid $200,000 range. The homes will be surrounded by walking and biking trails with three ponds in the neighborhood. It is located in the highly sought-after Topsail school district and just minutes from the beach. American Homesmith and Hardison Building Company are set to begin construc-
tion on the first homes beginning in September. “I seldom get the opportunity to work with a property such as Wyndwater,” said Pollak. “The rolling terrain, mature trees and water features create a setting unlike anything that has been developed in Hampstead in the past. Wyndwater will offer a wide range of products to choose from. Choices range from custom homes on up to an acre lot, to patio homes where all the yard maintenance
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