Sneads Ferry Presbyterian Church, 776 Highway 210, will be conducting Sunday School registration on August 15th during Fellowship Hour (immediately following our 10AM Worship Service). Please come and enjoy some goodies and refreshments while you are registering your child/children for Sunday School, which begins September 12th. Our teens (grades 7-12) meet Sundays at
Submitted by JoAnn Waggoner
Lawyers plan to meet this week regarding the legal dispute over the disqualification of the boat the Citation that landed a record catch at the 2010 Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament as efforts continue to resolve the issue. Questions about when and where the fishing license was purchased and when and where it is required to qualify for the tournament may be the deciding difference.
Please see JDNews.com article Attorneys meet over Big Rock dispute for more info
For the first time in its history, the Onslow County Board of Commissioners exercised authority granted to them under NCGS 159-15 to lower the property tax rate of the county an additional ½ of one cent (the equivalent of over half a million dollars) following the start of a fiscal year.
AUGUST SUMMER DAY CAMP REGISTRATION
The Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring an August Summer Day Camp Program at Onslow Pines Park. Register now at Onslow Pines Park with a limited number of spots available. Camp begins August 2 - August 13 Monday – Friday from 7:45 am – 5:15 PM. Cost is $85 per child. Call 347-5332 visit: www.onslowcountync.gov/parks
BACK TO SCHOOL CONCERT SERIES
The Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department, Onslow County Public Library and the NC Arts Council are sponsoring a “Back to School” music series. Concerts are held outdoors at the Onslow County Public Library on Thursday evenings August 5 - 26. Times of each concert are 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm. The Library is located at 58 Doris Ave. Performers are:
August 5 – Joe Jackson (Elvis Now)
August 12 – DV8 Band (Variety)
August 19 – To Be Announced
August 26 – O.H.L.A. (Hispanic Latino)
Concerts are free and open to the public. Pack up the family; bring lawn chairs and blankets. Join us for a variety of music and fun. In case of rain, the concerts will be held indoors at the Library. This program is funded by the North Carolina Arts Council, a State Agency, and awarded through the Jacksonville/Onslow Council for the Arts. Call 347-5332 or visit: www.onslowcountync.gov/parks
KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL BINGO
Join Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department for an exciting, fun filled evening of bingo Monday August 9, 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Kids 5 to 12 are invited to test their game skills at Blue Creek Elementary School Cafeteria. Play bingo and win back to school supplies. Kids 12 years of age and younger must be accompanied by an adult! The program is free. Visit: www.onslowcountync.gov/parks
END OF THE SUMMER CAMPOUT
Pack your tent, sleeping bag, bug spray and join Onslow County Parks and Recreation at Camp Mitchell in Swansboro Saturday August 28, 2010 for an overnight Family Campout. There will be games, fishing (bring fishing pole and bait) and other planned activities beginning at 1pm. We will roast a Hotdog maybe a Marshmallow and tell Campfire Stories. Don’t forget your pillow! Children must be accompanied by an adult! The program is free. Call 347-5332 to Pre-Register. Visit: www.onslowcountync.gov/parks
The Onslow Water and Sewer Authority ("ONWASA") will be deciding on Thursday, July 15, 2010 6:00 pm during its board meeting at Jacksonville City Hall whether or not to adopt its 2011 budget including lowered impact fees to make it competitive with other sewer utilities providing local service like Pluris.
For more info please see ONWASA mulls lower impact fees by JDNews.com
Man accused of sex offense, providing false age (see JDNews article for more info)
A 28 year old man, who lives on Old Folkstone Road in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina charged Thursday with the statutory rape of a 15 year old girl, was again arrested Friday for providing an incorrect age during his original arrest, according to warrants.
Onslow County Government has announced the hiring of its first full-time County Attorney. Ms. Lesley Moxley, of Macon County, North Carolina was unanimously approved by the Board of Commissioners during a special meeting on Tuesday, June 15th.
Originally from the Kinston/Lenoir County area, Ms. Moxley is a graduate of the Wake Forest University School of Law and has practiced law in North Carolina since 1990. Her field of expertise is in government law where she has gained tremendous experience working for such employers as The Sanford Holshouser Law Firm of Pinehurst, Moore County Government, Durham County Government, and most recently Macon County Government. Ms. Moxley is the immediate past president of the North Carolina Association of County Attorneys.
“Our community faces complex challenges”, said County Manager Jeff Hudson, “the Board of Commissioners has hired an individual with a great deal of experience in North Carolina government law.” Hudson stated that this hire marks a major change in direction for the County, which has been served solely by retained attorneys in past years. Onslow County financial records indicate that past annual payments to retained county attorneys exceeded $200,000. Ms. Moxley’s starting salary is $130,000 which represents a cost savings to the County.
The county attorney position reports to the Board of Commissioners and serves as the chief legal advisor to the Board and County Administration. The county attorney will also be available to all county departments. “Attorneys on retainer, by necessity, must serve all their clients and might therefore be less available to the County in a time of need” Hudson stated. “We now have an attorney who is focused on service to only one client: the citizens of Onslow County” he added.
Ms. Moxley fills the void left by Mr. Ron VonLembke who left the county attorney position in December 2009 when he relocated away from the area. Ms. Moxley’s first day on the job will be July 1, 2010.
(Onslow County) The 27th Annual Freedom Festival will be held on Sunday, July 4, 2010, at Onslow Pines Park off Highway 17 South adjacent to Harley Davidson. This FREE Festival will include Games, Rides, Vendor booths, and Karaoke beginning at 3 pm. Musical acts The Carousels, Pauline Smith, and J Barnes (Elvis) will perform a variety of oldies and beach music classics on two stages beginning at 5:00 pm. The event will culminate with a Fireworks Show at 9:00 pm.
For more information, call 347-5332 or visit our website at www.onslowcountync.gov/parks
Eat Smart, Cook Smart Cooking Classes
Learn to cook Quick, Healthy and Delicious meals in your food budget! Classes will be held at NC Cooperative Extension Thursdays July 1, 8, 15, and 22, 6:00 – 8:00 pm. $15.00 for 8 hours of Instruction, you will also receive Samples and Cook Books. Call Onslow County Parks and Recreation to Pre-register 347-5332. Visit: www.onslowcountync.gov/parks
27th ANNUAL FREEDOM FESTIVAL
Join Onslow County Parks and Recreation for the 27th Annual Freedom Festival; Sunday July 4, 2010 at Onslow Pines Park. The Carousels, Pauline Smith and J Barnes (Elvis) will perform on the two stages from 5:00 – 9:00pm. Games & rides for children and other vendors will be on hand starting at 3:00 p.m. Patriotic Fireworks Display at 9:00 p.m. For more information, call 347-5332 or visit our website at www.onslowcountync.gov/parks
SUMMER DAY CAMP LATE REGISTRATION
The Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department and the Onslow County Board of Education are sponsoring a Summer Day Camp Program at various school sites. Campsites are: Dixon Middle, Southwest Middle and Hunters Creek Middle, Swansboro Middle and Summersill Elementary School. Late registration will take place July 8 at Onslow Pines Park with a limited number of spots still available for Session II. Session II camp runs Monday-Friday, July 12-July 30 from 7:45 am – 5:15 PM. Cost is $85 per child with each additional child from the same family paying only $75 per child to attend Session II. Call 347-5332 visit: www.onslowcountync.gov/parks
SURF, SUN, AND 5K RUN
Get your feet wet at the Onslow County Parks and Recreation 5K and One Mile Fun Run, Saturday July 10 at Beach Access #2, 2950 Island Drive North Topsail Beach 28460. Call: 910-347-5332 to Pre-register by July 6 and get a Free T-Shirt! Late Registration on site 8:00 a.m. Awards will be presented after the race. This event is being held in conjunction with the Earth and Surf Day! Visit: www.onslowcountync.gov/parks
Public Information Sessions Scheduled on Proposed 2010/2011 Onslow County Budget
(Onslow County) Onslow County Government will conduct four public information sessions on the Proposed 2010/2011 Budget. The meetings are currently scheduled to be held as follows:
June 16th 10:00 am Onslow County Museum
June 16th 6:30 pm Jacksonville City Hall
June 17th 10:00 am Holly Ridge Town Hall
June 17th 6:30 pm Swansboro Town Hall
These four public information sessions are imperative so that the public can be informed about the financial profile of Onslow County and the important facets of this proposed budget. The budget has been made available for public review on the Onslow County website at www.onslowcountync.gov as well as at the following locations:
Onslow County Administration Office, 4024 Richlands Highway, Jacksonville
and
Onslow County Public Library Branches
· Jacksonville, 58 Doris Avenue East
· Richlands, 299 S. Wilmington Street
· Sneads Ferry, 242 Sneads Ferry Road
· Swansboro, 1460 West Corbett Avenue
The public information sessions are in addition to the one statutorily-required public hearing before the Board of Commissioners, which will be held during the regularly scheduled meeting of the Onslow County Board of Commissioners on June 21, 2010, 7:00 pm at Jacksonville City Hall.
If you have any questions or need additional information concerning the public hearing, please contact the Onslow County Administration Office at 910/347-4717.
(Onslow County) USDA Rural Development is dedicated to increasing awareness of programs and opportunities available to help those who do not own a home achieve the dream of home ownership. Rural Development has 502 Direct Loan funds available and applicants may qualify for payment assistance. Mortgage payments are based on the household's adjusted income. Families are expected to pay 24% of their gross adjusted income for house payment, insurance, and taxes. This 24% requirement often reduces the effective interest rate to as low as one percent. The adjusted household income limits for Onslow County are one person, $28,200; two persons, $32,250; three persons, $36,250; and four persons, $40,300. In order to determine income eligibility only, you may visit the following Internet website at: http://eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov/eligibility/welcomeAction.do
The 502 Direct Loan can assist a prospective homebuyer purchase an existing dwelling, purchase a newly constructed dwelling, or purchase a site and construct a dwelling in rural areas. Rural areas include communities with a population of 20,000 or less. Eligibility is based on household income, repayment ability, credit history, and the inability to afford a conventional loan. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided additional funds that are available through September 30th.
“The Obama Administration is committed to bringing the necessary resources to rural America to provide decent, affordable housing to those who need it”, said Agriculture Secretary Vilsack. “A strong Nation is made up of strong families, and safe, quality housing contributes greatly to rural Americans’ quality of life.”
For more information regarding the Section 502 Direct Home Loan Program please contact the USDA Rural Development office in Kinston at (252)-526-9799 ext 4.
Game warden commemorated in wildlife lookout spot
The John E Waters Jr. Wildlife Viewing Area is on MCB Camp Lejeune base property and yet is open to the public. It is located just over the high rise bridge on NC 172 at the base of a small access road before the sentry gate which is a great place for viewing and fishing from the pier.
For more info, please visit the JDNews.com online article
