Archive for March, 2010

“What we have is broken,” Pender County Commissioner James David Williams Jr. told a group of upset Hampstead business people gathered recently to hear an explanation of proposed new development rules for the county. The new regulations, called the Unified Development Ordinance, will actually include a special “overlay” district for the U.S. 17 corridor, which... »

Property tax values in Pender County appear to be across the board, based on the current revaluation being conducted. During a recent Pender County Commissioners’ meeting, Pender County Tax Assessor Coby Heath introduced Tim Cain of Assessment Solutions, the consulting firm conducting the 2011 revaluation project. Cain updated the board on the revaluation—which occurs every eight... »

Jessica Brooke Gray of LaGrange and Roy Lee Taylor II of Calypso announce their engagement. The bride-elect is the daughter of Joe and Julia Gay of LaGrange and the granddaughter of Robert and Mildred Gray of LaGrange and the late Joseph and Eleanor Gay of Snow Hill. The groom-elect is the son of Roy Lee and... »

William Edward Wells, age 94, of Teachey, went to be with the Lord March 23, 2010. He resided for the past two years at DaySpring Assisted Living, Wallace, and most recently at Quinn Hospice Care Center, Kenansville. Mr. Wells was born in 1915 to the late Will and Julie Wells. After graduating from Presbyterian Jr.... »

Music performed by inmates at Pender Correctional Institution in Burgaw combined with photos taken at the county animal shelter, provide the foundation of the recently released video which is an instant success on You Tube. This moving and inspirational plea from shelter dogs, caged and sentenced to an almost certain death, was created to hopefully... »

Rasheed Freeman, 20, and Alfred Eugene Watkins, 36, are wanted by the Beulaville Police Department on multiple drug charges. Freeman, of Beulaville, was charged with delivery of cocaine, possession with the intent to manufacture, sell, and/or deliver marijuana, manufacturing marijuana, selling marijuana, delivering marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Watkins, of Raleigh, was charged with possession... »

Seventh grader Hannah Goble didn’t get discouraged a few years ago when she rounded up only $12 in an effort to help the children in Africa. Her passion to help people in need only got stronger. It started with news reports of the earthquake in Haiti. Then her science teacher at Trexler Middle School showed... »

Unemployment continues to increase as more businesses close throughout the region. North Carolina climbs to 11.1 percent in January. The previous rate was 10.9 percent. The national unemployment rate is 9.7 percent, which a slight drop, the lowest since August 2009. In Duplin County the unemployment rate went from 9.3 to 9.9 percent. “The current economy... »

Several civic organizations gathered at the Wallace Chamber of Commerce March meeting held at the Mad Boar. One group that carried a very strong message was from Wallace Rotarians. Steve Paes and Hugh Caison, members of the Wallace Rotary and Wallace Chamber of Commerce, gave a talk and presented a slide show on their trip to... »

No one knows what got into William Henry Carr, 25, when stabbed the Reverend Willie Douglas James Jr.  at church. The incident occurred at St. James Church of Christ in Delway while members of the congregation were enjoying a family fun day on Sept. 19, 2009. The Sampson County investigation showed that Carr, 25, 2438 Trinity... »