Columbus County families have plenty to do in the coming week. While parents, teachers, and students gear up for kids to head back to school, the area has events planned for one last hurrah before youngsters hit the books.
• Southeastern Community College will be hosting the Chris Wilcox Family Fun Day on Saturday, Aug. 13, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The event will feature a book bag giveaway with school supplies, vendors, food, games, campus tours, registration for fall SCC classes, and much more. The college is located at 4564 Chadbourn Highway near Whiteville.
• The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Whiteville will be holding their Second Saturday Storytime on Aug. 13, at 10:30 a.m. Join staff in the Discovery Forest for a story time all about the sun. Sing a song, read a book, and make a suncatcher. This event is geared towards ages 3-6, but older siblings and all story lovers are welcome. The museum is located at 415 South Madison Street.
• The Farmers Union Community Food Bank will be serving those in need this Saturday and every second Saturday of the month from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Sandy Plain Missionary Baptist Church in the fellowship hall. The church is located at 903 Farmers Union Road in the St. James community.
• The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office held a promotion ceremony on Thursday night. Several members of the department were promoted for their hard work and dedication to the job. The following individuals have new titles:
Timmy Inman – Patrol Deputy First Sergeant
Craig Leggett – Animal Protective Services First Sergeant
Mary Wilkins – Court Deputy First Sergeant
Jimmy Hardin – Information Technology First Sergeant
Amy Corder – Detective First Sergeant
Alex Britt – Deputy Sergeant
Jeff Thomas – Deputy Sergeant
Earl Redwine – Transportation Deputy Sergeant
Crissie Cox – Animal Protective Services Sergeant
Jordan Gentry – Criminal Investigations Detective
• Wanda Stewart took to Facebook to thank members of the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Jose Garcia, Deputy Blake Soles, and First Sergeant Timmy Inman made quick work of apprehending two thieves who broke into Stewart’s vehicles. The officers recovered a stolen security camera, a bicycle, and other items within an hour of the call going out.
• Shizzy’s Wildcat Rescue, a non-profit animal rescue organization, is building a 56-acre big cat sanctuary located in Fair Bluff. They need volunteers to help with construction on several big cat and wolf habitats on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
All volunteers must be at least 18 years old, be able to lift a minimum of 20 pounds, and be comfortable working in various weather conditions. No experience is necessary. Groups are welcome.
To sign up, contact Rhonda Billeaud at rhonda.billeaud@shizzyswildcatrescue.org or call 910.840.1886.
• The Columbus Council of the North Carolina Reading Association did a day’s work on Tuesday, all for the love of books. The organization filled Little Free Libraries at the health department, Vineland Station, and at the Dream Center in Whiteville. The CCNCRA’s main goal is to promote reading, writing and literacy in the area through partnerships and literacy-related activities.
• Services for the Lakeside Ministry at the Lake Waccamaw Campground Pavilion are still ongoing and will continue to run every Sunday through Sept. 4 at 9 a.m. The speaker this weekend will be Rev. Randy, and the singer will be Maddy Hunt. The campground is located at 250 Waccamaw Shores Road in Lake Waccamaw.
• The Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum will be hosting the “Getting Edu-Gatored in North Carolina” Program this Sunday, Aug. 14, at 3 p.m. with biologist Alicia Davis of the Wildlife Resources Commission.
During this presentation, she will answer the question “What good is an alligator anyways?” by highlighting some of the lesser-known ecological benefits of alligators, explain why it’s not always easy at the top of the food chain.
She will identifying some of the challenges facing alligators at the northern extent of their range, and share what NCWRC is doing to learn more about alligators at Lake Waccamaw and elsewhere in our state. The program is free, and the public is invited to attend,
• The Columbus Baptist Association will be having their Backpack Buddies packing party on Monday, Aug. 15, at 7 p.m. at the CBA office located at 208 South Thompson St., Whiteville. For more information call the CBA office at 910.642.2155.
• The Waccamaw Siouan STEM Studio is looking for tribal youth to join its 2022 Soul Science Cohort. Learn how you can shape the community’s future health while working alongside environmental scientist. The program is for children ages 5-18 years old, and registration is open from now until Aug. 15. Visit https://forms.gle/Hjxp5xBJuVxpDUD27 to sign-up for this event.
• Southeastern Community College will be having a family movie night on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 8 p.m. on the campus lawn. The feature for the evening will be Spiderman: No Way Home. Admission is free, and popcorn, drinks, and candy will be available for purchase.
• Healing Hearts is offering rapid COVID-19 testing at two locations in Whiteville. The organization’s main office, located at 426 Lee Street, will be open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays by appointment only.
An outside testing clinic will be available for testing, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., beside the Urgent Care at 614 JK Powell Blvd., Whiteville.
Home visits are available for the elderly and those without transportation. Call 910.207.7834 for more information.
• Families First of Bladen and Columbus County need help to provide school supplies to the children within the domestic violence and sexual assault program. Items needed include notebooks, bookbags, lunch boxes, notebook paper, folders and dividers, three ring binders, glue sticks, rulers, scissors, crayons, pens, highlighters, hand sanitizers (small), masks, Post-It Notes, index cards, headphones, and earbuds. Items can be dropped off at the Whiteville office located at 121 West Main Street, or at the Elizabethtown office at 103 East Board Street.
• Galloway Farm, home of Columbus County’s Maze Craze, now has their annual scarecrow contest open. Create a scarecrow to represent your business and enter to win a $500 advertising spot for the 2023 Maze Craze.
This year, the farm will be partnering with Netflix for an Outer Banks themed field design. For more information about entering the contest, contact Galloway Farm via their Facebook page.
• Join the Museum of Natural Sciences in Whiteville for a family movie night plus science activities. Bring your chairs or blankets and get ready to have some fun. “Raya and the Last Dragon” will be the feature on Aug. 19.
The museum’s lawn will be open at 8 p.m. for nature activities, and the feature presentation will begin at 8:30 p.m. Movies on Madison are free, and no registration is required. Refreshments will be available for sale onsite.
• The GOOD NEWS is featured every Saturday morning on WTXY, and throughout the week under the GOOD NEWS tab at z2j.c7e.myftpupload.com. Email crystalfaircloth@columbuscounty.newswith your church announcements, fundraisers, yard sales, pageant winners, club news, community celebrations, or just plain happy stories. There is no charge for publicizing your events.
