The Pender Post - From the Black River to the Beaches...

-----Wednesday, July 28, 2010-----

The last fruits of the summer

Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Richard Thomas of Thomas Produce sells some of the last of his tomatoes at his retail stand west of Burgaw last week. Thomas finished his tomato season at his retail stand last Saturday. Thomas Produce wholesales tomatoes by the truckoad to a distributor in Maryland.

Pender County Schools AYP scores slip

Pender County Schools 2010 Adequate Yearly Progress scores slipped after a dramatic jump the previous year. 62.5 percent of Pender County Schools made AYP in 2010, down from 68.8 percent in 2009. In 2008, only 31.3 percent of Pender County Schools made AYP. Assistant School Superintendent Rachel Manning says the big jump from 2008 to 2009 came largely through a different way of counting student test scores. In 2008, student re-tests were not counted in the AYP figures, although a passing re-test score was credited to the student. more...

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SPORTS Pics

Employment

rate improves

The Pender County unemployment rate slipped downward again during the month of June, according to figures released by the state Employment Security Commission. The June unemployment rate fell slightly to 10.1 percent, down from 10.2 percent in May. All neighboring counties in Southeastern North Carolina experienced an increase in the rate, except for New Hanover County, which remained at 9.2 percent. more...

Boat ramp project
moves ahead

The Lewis Road public boat ramp project continues to move ahead. State Wildlife officials are working through the long list of permits necessary to allow construction of the long-awaited public boat ramp.

Mark Hamlett, Design Services Section Chief with the Division of Engineering Services is hopeful that permits should be submitted within the next several months. The permits include a CAMA Major Permit, DWQ Stormwater more...

Violent crime

on the rise in Pender

While more violent crimes were reported in Pender County last year, the county’s overall crime rate was down, according to a report recently released by the N.C. Department of Crime Control. The crime rate index is based on the number of reported crimes per 100,000 people. Pender had an overall rate of 2,540.6, down from 3,388 in 2008. This is significantly lower than the overall state average of 4,178 for 2009, down 8.8 percent overall. In 2008, the state more...