Merry Christmas Eve, everyone. Here’s your Good News from our area for Dec. 23.
Happening Saturday, two big Christmas dinners are available for anyone in need of a good meal.
Willing Vessel Ministries, who sponsored the big Thanksgiving meal last month, is hosting a free community Christmas dinner at 11:30 at Murf’s Pawn in Whiteville. They will be serving plates to anyone until the food runs out. Donations are appreciated.
Also Saturday is also the 35th annual Community Christmas dinner serving Columbus and Horry counties. You can pick up plates starting at 8 a.m. at Fair Bluff Baptist church, 9 a.m. at Mount Tabor Manna on Orange street in Tabor city, and in Nichols, Loris and Green Sea. Call 843.781.1326 to reserve a meal, or make arrangements for delivery if you have no transportation. The community Christmas dinner is a non-profit, all volunteer effort that provided more than 14,000 meals last year.
The first Hallsboro Community Christmas celebration is Saturday at 3 p.m. There will be storytelling, hot chocolate, a singalong and more. The event will be at Bracey’s Shop at the intersection of Hallsboro Road South and Giles Byrd Road. Laura Elizabeth Porter hatched the idea less than a month ago, and the community has really turned out to help. I hope we see a big crowd for this very special, first-ever event.
In a scene straight out of a Christmas movie, there was a runaway sheep in Tabor city Thursday. The wayward wooly wanderer was found near Tabor Landing apartments, wearing an orange leash. Authorities corralled the lost sheep after he began wandering into traffic. The runaway ram is now in custody of Animal Protective Services. If the sheep is yours, call 910.641.3945.
Speaking of APS, Columbus Animal Protective Services has dropped adoption fees to $20 per animal through February. That price does not include the spay and neuter voucher. The shelter is open for adoptions from 10 until 4 Monday through Friday, but will be closed Dec. 25-27 and Jan. 1. The shelter will be operating on normal hours on all other days for adoptions and visiting animals.
The Grinch seems to have set up shop in Whiteville. After greeting parents in the pickup line at Central Middle on Wednesday, the Green celebrity was spotted visiting several businesses in downtown Whiteville, spreading a little Christmas cheer.
When the festivities finish up next week, start the new year off on the right foot. Join park ranger Emily for the First Day Hike on New Year’s Day from 1-2 at the Lake Waccamaw State Park. Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. The park hopes to start a new tradition with the easy-paced, fun, informative hike. Meet at the visitor’s center at 12:30.
Someone lost a leaf blower along Hallsboro Road on Thursday. If it’s yours, contact Jeannette Turbeville on Facebook.
Governor Roy Cooper has ordered the N.C. Department of Emergency Management to render all necessary aid to Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. State agencies will be standing by to provide deer feed, hay and water, along with cookies, milk and hot chocolate as Santa makes his way across the state. Young children are urged to go to bed early, since Santa’s schedule will be very tight and he doesn’t want to be delayed making all his stops. Military radar will be tracking his progress, and updates will be available online. See this story on our webpage for a link to the live tracking app.
From everyone at Columbuscountynews.com, have a safe and Merry Christmas.
