Happening this weekend
As spooky season approaches, many churches, businesses, and organizations are holding harvest celebrations and trunk or treats. Be sure to send your Halloween events to Columbus County News for publication. There is no charge for this service, and the news can be read daily for absolutely free at www.z2j.c7e.myftpupload.com.
The annual Kevin Connor Memorial Run is Saturday. The State Highway Patrol Trooper (B-551) lost his life during a traffic stop on Oct. 17, 2018. The first run was held on Oct. 19, 2019, and over 900 runners participated. It was the largest organized race ever in Columbus County.
The community will come together once again this year for the 5k and 1-mile run in memory of his life and his dedication to protecting the county that he loved.
Runners are to meet in downtown Whiteville on the day of the run at 422 South Madison Street beginning at 7:30 a.m. Pre-race packets will be picked up from 7:30-8:20 a.m., the 5k will begin at 8:30 a.m., and the one-mile starts at 8:35 a.m.
Awards will be presented at the conclusion of the race. For more information, visit https://kevinconnermemorial.org
The Columbus County Fair continues through Sunday. Gate admission is $8, and Carload Sunday will be $40 and includes admission and ride bands. All the passengers must be in a seatbelt. The fairgrounds are located at 886 Prison Camp Road, Brunswick.
Maze Craze at Galloway Farms in Hallsboro is open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays of every weekend until Nov. 6. This year the 13-acre Outer Banks themed maze will lead you on a treasure hunt as you search for OBX icons hidden along the paths.
Outside of the maze, enjoy games, tractor-pulled wagon rides, barrel train rides, live farm animals, concessions, and more.
A two-acre kid’s fun maze contains the story trails. Walk along with your children and read the story of Spookley the Square Pumpkin, Jack and the Cornstalk, The Three Silly Goats and Their Stuff, and sing with Farmer Alma’s Sing-Along Trail. Tickets start at $12. Visit https://www.gallowayfarmnc.com to purchase your tickets through Nov. 5.
In other news
Whiteville Firefighter Rocky McPherson headed out to Orange County Florida this past week to deliver donations for the victims of Hurricane Ian. The supplies were donated by the community.
The Columbus County Farmers Market will be celebrating the fall harvest with a Farm-to-Table dinner on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m. Many aspects of the feast will include ingredients from local growers and vendors, and all proceeds will go toward the purchase of commercial appliances for the kitchen at the market.
Only 80 spots are available, and individual tickets can be purchased for $70 each. The Farm-to-Table dinner will be held at the Spillway, 1252 Millpond Road, Whiteville. For more information about the meal or to reserve your seat, contact Lewis at 703.623.7515.
Members of Fort Fisher State Historic Site staff assisted the N.C. Underwater Archeology team and members of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe this week in loading up a 940-year-old canoe that was found nearly intact at Lake Waccamaw.
To make dugout canoes, American Indians would roll large logs into the lake to identify the heaviest side. That heavy side, which would sink below the water, became the bottom of the canoe. The rest of the tree was carefully dug out and burned away. The scorch marks are still visible on the artifact. The canoe was left secured in the lake to prevent decay until it could be recovered and safely preserved.
This canoe will temporarily be with the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe before being transported to its final destination at the Museum of the Southeast American Indian for their exhibit hall.
Get batty on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 10:30 a.m. at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Whiteville as you read “Stellaluna” by Janell Cannon.
The book is about a young fruit bat, Stellaluna, who becomes separated from her mother and finds her way to a nest of birds. After the reading, children will be invited to make bat masks to get into the Halloween spirit. The program is for little ones, ages 3-6 years old, but all families are welcome to attend. No registration is required.
The town of Lake Waccamaw is now accepting entries for their annual Christmas Parade. To put in your entry online, visit the town’s website or stop by Town Hall located at 205 Flemington Drive.
The 50th annual Waccamaw Siouan Powwow will be held Oct. 21-22 at the tribal grounds. There will be a parade on Saturday at 11 a.m., contests, food, and vendors with handcrafted items for sale. Traditional dancing demonstrations, Waccamaw Siouan history, and drumming will also be featured during the event. Admission is $8, and children ages four and under get in free. The grounds are located at 7275 Old Lake Road in Buckhead.
The N.C. Yam Festival is next weekend, and a full slate of activities is set for the border town.
The Yam Festival parade will begin at 10 a.m. originating at Seventh and Main Streets, down Main Street, left onto Green Sea Road, then right onto Hickman Road, left onto Bell Street, then left onto Pireway Road, left onto Fifth Street, and right onto Wall Street.
Downtown will feature vendors, food, entertainment and more.
The traditional sweet potato giveaway will take place after the festival in the parking lot of the Tabor City Public Library (aka Yam Fest Headquarters). Bags will be provided thanks to Tabor City IGA. The sweet potatoes were grown right down the road and purchased from Hunter McPherson Farms.
Transformation Church will be having a fish fry on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. The cost is $8 per plate, and tickets can be purchased ahead of time by calling 910.918.1226. The church is located at 9955 James B. White Highway South, one mile north of Williams Township School.
Speaking of church fundraisers, Engage Life Church will be flipping hotcakes on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 8-10 a.m. at Highway 55 in Whiteville during their pancake breakfast sale.
Plates are only $5 each, and proceeds will go towards the Accelerant Youth Conference held at the first of the year. The restaurant is located at 104 Columbus Corners Drive in Whiteville.
Head to the Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest in Elizabethtown on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 2 p.m. for a mushroom hike with the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. Attendees will be learning the basics of mushroom identification and observe them in the field.
The hike will be approximately one hour and 1.5 miles. This is an ecoEXPLORE skills session geared toward ages 5-12 years old, and participants will earn points toward the Mycology field season badge. Space is limited, so reserve your child’s spot at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzUFOtS0VO3VR_vd7JEeH9milk6_DNwnuCTlVB1Tr5xrFP4w/viewform.
The Bolton Pine Tree Festival scheduled for Oct. 1 has been moved to Oct. 29. The committee is still looking for food vendors and entertainment for the event. For more information, contact Bolton Town Hall at 910.655.8945.
The Columbus County Shriners will be holding their annual fish fry on Thursday, Nov. 10, in Riegelwood at the corner of Waccamaw and Old Stage Road and on Friday, Nov. 11, at the D.B. Cox Crop Insurance office in front of Tractor Supply in Whiteville. Plates are $10 each, and the organization will be serving up good eats from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. both days. Contact Daniel Hilburn or Matt Wilson via Facebook to purchase your tickets.
Galloway Farm will be presenting a night of music by local artists, Podiac Jack, on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. The band covers music from the 50s – 90s including rock, rockabilly, and blues. They cover music by the Beatles, The Who, Johnny Cash, Green Day, and more. Local food vendors and fair favorites will be available for purchase at the event. Visit www.gallowayfarm.yapsody.com/event/index/746225 to purchase your tickets now.
The GOOD NEWS is featured every Saturday morning on WTXY Kool 1039FM AM1540, and under the GOOD NEWS tab at z2j.c7e.myftpupload.com. Email crystalfaircloth@columbuscounty.news with your church announcements, fundraisers, yard sales, club news, community celebrations, or just plain happy stories. There is no charge for publicizing your events.
