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All unvaccinated employees and citizens
BOC enacts mask mandate for county offices By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher Acting on recommendation from the Pender County Health Department, Commissioners voted to require masks in county offices for all unvaccinated individuals, both county employees and residents visiting the offices. “In light of the recent increase
in COVID cases, and hospitalizations, we are requesting the board consider a mask mandate for all unvaccinated employees as well as the public entering our buildings,” said Pender County Manager Chad McEwen. Commissioner David Piepmeyer restated the mandate saying “we are going to mandate masks except for the exemption you are vaccinated
Pender COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations increase Recent death reported
and provide proof of that vaccination.” McEwen agreeded with Piepmeyer’s statement. If the employee’s job interacts with the public out of county offices, masks will continue to be required unless vaccinated. Unvaccinated employees working outside offices and not in close proximity to others will not have to wear a mask.
“We are trying to have some common sense about this, but we are under a lot of pressure to have something,” said Commissioner David Williams. “This is not making people get vaccinated.” Commissioner Jackie Newton said the county has a responsibility to citizens to provide continuity of service. “Surrounding counties have man-
dated all employees wear masks. We are not going that far yet. If you have chosen to be vaccinated and protect yourself and others, then we are not going to require you to wear a mask,” Newton said. Nothing was discussed as to requiring citizens entering county offices to provide proof of vaccination in order to go without a mask.
Buses are back Monday
By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher A 57-year-old Pender County resident has died from COVID-19 complications as the number of hospitalizations from the virus increases. A total of 74 individuals have died in Pender County from the virus, with 17 of those deaths occurring in the Burgaw prison unit. Pender County continues to have a much lower death rate than surrounding counties and the number of cases. “I think that is because of the efforts of our staff at the Health Department,” said Pender County Health and Human Services Director Carolyn Moser.
The patient who recently died had other serious health issues that contributed to the situation. Moser says some of the hospitalizations are patients who received the vaccine. “The vaccine is not 100 percent effective. You should take extra precautions even though you may have been vaccinated. That has always been the case,” Moser said. “We do
Continued on page 2A
Staff photosby Andy Pettigrew
School buses will be back on Pender County roads Monday as classes begin for traditional school year students Aug. 23.
Sept. 18 Cape Fear Community College Day in Burgaw By Lori Kirkpatrick Post & Voice Staff Writer The Town of Burgaw and Pender County Commissioners have declared Sep.18 as Cape Fear Community College Day. In celebration, CFCC is hosting Cape Fear Community College Day- Industry Inspires on Saturday, Sept. 18 at Cape Fear Community College’s Burgaw Center. This free, public event will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and will feature a performance by The Embers from noon to 2 p.m. Children’s events will include a bouncy
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house and a touch-a-truck event with 25 trucks on display. Complimentary food will be provided by Mema’s Chick’n and Ribs. “What an honor for Sept. 18, 2021, to be proclaimed Cape Fear Community College Day by the Town of Burgaw!” said CFCC President Jim Morton. “Our roots are strong in Pender County, and we plan to expand our reach. Cape Fear Community College is committed to providing exceptional educational and job training opportunities to the people of Burgaw and Pender County. We invite everyone to come out and celebrate Cape Fear Com-
munity College day on September 18. Families can learn more about what’s available at CFCC, and enjoy great food, child-friendly events, and the fellowship of the Burgaw community.” “With the latest expansion of the CFCC Burgaw Center and of the programs there, we wanted to engage the community, businesses, and alumni in the Burgaw/Pender County area to share all that the College has to offer,” said Shane Fernando, Vice President of Advancement and the Arts at CFCC. During the event, CFCC will offer live demonstrations and tours
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of the facilities, including the Welding Lab and the HVAC Lab. Attendees can visit the diesel facility and learn more about the Nurse Aide program. Tammie Parris, Director of Pender County - Economic Workforce and Development, explained that CFCC’s Burgaw Center offers a
Continued on page 2A CFCC Director of Pender County-Economic Workforce and Development Tammie Parris holds the proclamation from the Town of Burgaw.
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Horses dead from EEE By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
Two horses in a Rocky Point neighborhood have died from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The horses were located in a neighborhood east of Interstate 40. Eastern Equine Encephalitis is a very rare, but serious and often fatal infection that causes encephalitis. EEE is a mosquito-borne illness that is fatal in horses, and has a 30 percent fatality rate in humans. People with EEE who survive have ongoing neurologic problems. “We have taken the mosquito trucks out and sprayed in that area,” said Pender County Health and Human Services Director Carolyn Moser. “We are really encouraging horse owners to get their animals vaccinated. It’s a fatal disease. This disease is around and we need to make sure the animals are vaccinated.”