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Suspect uses metal flat file in robbery

Submitted by Kim Kopka Ratcliff, News Anchor, Carolina in the Morning
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012, 1:27pm

MAPLE HILL, NC (WECT) – Deputies with the Pender County Sheriff's Office arrested a woman Wednesday morning accused of robbing the Scotchman Store off Highway 53 in Maple Hill.

The sheriff's office said Amber Laticia James, of Maple Hill, showed a metal flat file when robbing the store.

According to authorities, James took less than $100 and left the Scotchman in a black BMW. Deputies were able to catch up to her and arrested James shortly after the robbery.

No injuries were reported.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

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Pender Co. will officially stick with the traditional school calendar

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012, 11:45am
Pender Co. will officially stick with the traditional school calendar

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – It is finally official – the traditional school calendar will remain in place in Pender County.

School board members voted during a recent meeting to keep the traditional school calendar.

There has been controversy surrounding the topic for the past few month, as Pender County Schools had toyed with the idea of starting high schools week earlier than middle or elementary schools.

Many parents and town leaders were upset with the concept saying it would make it more difficult for students to get summer jobs.

The College Career Promise Program was the reason behind the potential change. School board members and the superintendent were able to find a way to make the program work without changing the regular schedule.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

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Board of Education to meet privately on Wednesday evening

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012, 9:01am
Board of Education to meet privately on Wednesday evening

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – The Pender County Board of Education will meet in a closed session on Wednesday, May 16 at 5:30 p.m.

The meeting will take place at the Central Office, located at 925 Penderlea Hwy. in Burgaw.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

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Officials identify woman killed in Pender County house fire

Submitted by WECT Web Staff
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 7:54pm

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - A grandmother is dead after a fire in Pender County and her granddaughter, barely made it out alive.

Edna Mae Gurganious of the Penderlea community died in a house fire early Tuesday morning along with the puppies she was trying to raise-- her family said she loved all animals.

Edna Mae was 82 years old and had dementia but her family said they can't believe it was a fire that took her life.

"She was everything and I lost everything else," said Edna's son, Timothy.

The family is no stranger to sadness. Edna Mae, a mother to four boys and four girls, lived through the death of three of her boys -- Tuesday's fire, sending her back to them -- but not without the fight of a lifetime first, from her only living son

"I just done the best I could. It broke my heart," said Timothy Gurganious.

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Just over $120K awarded to eight Pender Co. fire departments

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 3:55pm
Just over $120K awarded to eight Pender Co. fire departments

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Over $8 million was awarded to over 600 fire departments across the state recently through the 2012 Volunteer Fire Department Fund.

The Fund was created in 1988 to provide dollar-for-dollar matching grants to assist volunteer fire departments, according to a news release from Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshall Wayne Goodwin. A total of $8,717,495.18 was awarded to 644 departments and some of that money is going to Pender County. Here’s the list of local grants:

  • Atkinson Fire Department, $15,000
  • Long Creek Grady Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc., $18,083.88
  • Maple Hill V.F.D., Inc., $20,606.40
  • Penderlea Fire Department, $3,111
  • Rocky Point Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., $14,138.88
  • Shiloh-Columbia V.F.D., Inc., $30,000
  • Surf City V.F.D., Inc., $9,763.27
  • Topsail Beach Fire Department, $9,729.09

“I’m proud that so many fire departments are taking advantage of this important grant program. These grants help our volunteer fire departments stretch their budgets to better serve our communities,” stated Goodwin in a news release.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

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NWS issues severe T-storm warning for parts of Pender, Bladen counties

Submitted by WECT Web Staff
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 1:30pm

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning just before 1:30 Tuesday afternoon.

The warning was issued for western Pender County until 2:00 p.m. and southeastern Bladen County until 2:15 p.m.

The National Weather Service Doppler Radar showed a severe thunderstorm capable of producing quarter-size hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

 

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Driver's education will soon cost students in Pender Co.

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director
Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 10:53am

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Students in Pender County will soon have to pay for driver's education classes.

The school board voted Monday night to charge $45 per student for the program starting June 1.

According to the Pender County Schools website, students must complete 30 hours of classroom work, along with six hours of behind-the-wheel training to complete driver's ed.

Once the course is complete, students will be issued a driver eligibility certificate from the school so that the student can apply for a learner's permit at the age of 15. The certificate is required to get a learner's permit if you have not graduated high school or acquired a GED.

Pender County schools are not alone in requiring a fee for driver's education. Students in New Hanover County must pay a $25 non-refundable fee to attend class.

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