Pender County group holds rally to inform residents about pressing needs, issues

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — Around 100 people gathered on the courthouse square in downtown Burgaw for a special vigil and rally focusing on a variety of issues.

The Pender County Conscience Citizens Group organized the event, which they called A Vigil for Honesty and Integrity in Local Government.

Ten speakers covered a range of topics, including concerns about the Pender EMS and Fire merger and cutting funding for the county’s tourism development authority.

For residents like Robert Marasco, it was a great chance for so many people to hear about these topics.

“The more information we get, the better we are able to judge between the proper information and the misinformation, so it’s great for everybody all around,” Marasco said.

Organizer Rochelle Whiteside said the rally allows residents to question county leaders about their actions.

“People who don’t know, who don’t have time to come to meetings or stay informed and begin to question things as they see them happening in our locale, can find out from these speakers who are informed about these issues and then they can go to a town hall meeting and ask a question,” Whiteside said.

District Judge James H Faison III spoke during the rally, sharing why he felt funding for a drug treatment court in Pender County was important.

“Having a drug treatment court in Pender County, which we have one in New Hanover County and it has worked extremely well,” Faison said. “It saves lives, as well as taxpayer dollars. So to replicate that here in Pender County would be a tremendous blessing to this community.”

During the rally, Faison said statistics show 98% of people who have gone to New Hanover County’s drug treatment court have not re-offended.

Whiteside said she hopes this rally will inspire county commissioners to hold a town hall meeting where questions like these can be answered.