The Good News for April 12

Saturday is going to be a big, busy day in Columbus. From science to chickens to plain old fun, there is plenty to do in our community.

• The first ever Spring Fling is coming up Saturday at Gurganus Farm Store in Whiteville from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.. There will be a flock swap, goats for sale, food trucks, kids games and more. The county farmers market will also move operations to Gurganus for the day, bringing a number of local produce and handicraft vendors.
  Columbus Animal Protective Services will be on hand with rabies shots at $5 per pet. You can even get your dog a pedicure for $5. Gurganus is located in Hill Plaza on Madison Street in Whiteville.

• Light the Lake is Saturday at the Boys and Girls Home at Lake Waccamaw from 1-5 p.m. This year’s event is even more special – it’s the celebration of the Home’s foster and adoption programs, as well as raising awareness of child abuse.

  

  There will be food trucks, five bounce houses, Mike’s Garage Band, Bikers Against Child Abuse, cornhole and other games. The lake walk begins at 5 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the whole day with your family.

• Innovation Through the Ages is Saturday, April 13, at the Museum of Science in Whiteville. There will be activities from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.  At 10:30 am there will be an Earth Day storytime with the Columbus Council of NCRA in the museum’s mezzanine. Join the rubber-band boat races at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the museum lawn. Test your paper airplane skills at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., also on the museum lawn. Learn about archaeologists, and how they set up their dig sites at noon in the fossil pit at the museum.

The museum is located at the intersection of Columbus and Madison in downtown Whiteville. The event is free.

This week

• Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum will hold bingo night April 16 at 630. Admission is $5, and you can purchase extra cards. Players have the chance at some great prizes. Snacks will be for sale as well. Proceeds go to the museum.
• Starting April 17, watermelon grower boxes will be available for youth 17 and under who want to compete in this year’s Fair Bluff watermelon Growing contest. Boxes can be picked up at G and G Healthcare starting April 17. Go to fairbluffwatermelonfestival.org for more information.
• Southeastern Carolina Crossroads is holding its inaugural fundraising gala April 18 from 6-9 at Cape Fear Winery in Elizabethtown. Tickets are $75 per person. Crossroads is a comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment facility located in Bladen County. It serves men from across the country in its intensive residential programs. Go to Cape Fear Vineyard’s website for more information.

Ongoing

• Alcoholics Anonymous meets Fridays at the Bolton Youth and Senior Center, 15354 Sam Potts Highway. Doors open at 8 p.m.
• Fair Bluff’s Village Market is the first Saturday of every month on the Riverwalk. Crafters, produce vendors, yard salers and artisans of all kinds are welcome. Contact the chamber of commerce for more.
• United Bank in Whiteville has partnered with the Carolyn’s Kaleidoscope Child Advocacy Center to collect needed supplies and donations. The top requested items are blankets and adult white t-shirts. Donations will be accepted at the Whiteville branch until May 31.

On the horizon

• Whiteville Police will host National Prescription Drug Takeback Day April 27 at Walgreen’s in Whiteville. Tablets, capsules, patches and other forms of prescription and non-prescription drugs can be dropped off for safe disposal. Illegal drugs will not be accepted at the dropoff. The event is from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
• You can be better prepared for hurricane season by attending the Hurricane Preparedness Expo April 27 at the fairgrounds. You can talk to first responders and experts, learn more about disaster preparation and recovery and pick up some free resources. Call 910.622.4331 for more information.
• The Farmers Union Spring Fest Parade is April 27. Lineup is at 10 a.m. at 5862 Hallsboro Road North. After the parade festivities will take place at the E and G Spaulding Park, 819 Farmers Union Road. Call 910.918.6474.
• Columbus Parks and Rec and the Lake Waccamaw State Park Friends will sponsor a swim clinic June 11-13 for children ages 6-12. Snacks will be provided, and parents are welcome. The clinic is free, and limited to 80 participants. Call 910.640.6624.
• Chadbourn Baptist Church will be holding their bingo and pizza fundraiser for the youth program April 26 starting at 5:30. Two slices of pizza and a cookie are $5, and cards are $1 each. Prizes will be awarded, and all proceeds go to the youth program.
• United Bank in Whiteville has partnered with the Carolyn’s Kaleidoscope Child Advocacy Center to collect needed supplies and donations for the center. The top requested items are blankets and adult sized white t-shirts. Donations will be accepted at the Whiteville branch until May 31.
• Lake Waccamaw’s Gator Festival is coming up April 26-27, with music, vendors, all kinds of free activities for the kids and much more. There is still room for vendors, and sponsors are needed for children’s activities. Go to lakewaccamawnc.govfor more information.
• • Lebanon Lodge Number 207 will host a charity bike ride April 27 starting at the lodge, 124 Pecan Street in Whiteville. Registration is 8 until 930 a.m., with kickstands up at 10. Cost is $20 per bike, and $10 for additional riders. This will be an escorted ride to Beach house Harley Davidson, with a hot dog lunch and rifle raffle in Whiteville. Proceeds benefit the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford.

News to make you smile

Got a happy story? Message us or share it with columbuscountynews.com on Facebook, or call Jefferson Weaver at 910.914.6056.

• Seven more dogs and puppies went to their new homes this week courtesy of Shelter Dog Transport Alliance .
  The non-profit gave the pups a ride from Columbus Animal Protective services. If you’d like to donate to this worthy cause, look up Shelter Dog Transport Alliance on Facebook.

• Whiteville Alliance Church welcomed Rev. Ronald Mitchell as their new pastor beginning March 24.  Mitchell brings a wealth of experience in pastoral ministry, leadership, evangelism, international ministries, life coaching, speaking and publishing. He and his wife Elaine have three children and eleven grandchildren.

  

  The church is located at 623 Warrior Trail, Whiteville.  Sunday service begins at 10:30 a.m., and all are welcome.

  • The Veterans Memorial Park welcomed a busload of Tabor City School fifth graders Friday. The students got to meet veterans of all armed services, toured the grounds, and learned about the POW/MIA memorial at the site. They started the day with the pledge of allegiance and the National Anthem. As has become tradition, park volunteer Joe Hahn handed out small American flags to the kids as they got off the bus.

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  We always have room for your church announcements, civic club news, good Samaritans, animal stories, pageant winners, little kids with big fish – anything that makes you smile, there’s room for it on air and online in the Good News. Email [email protected], call 910.914.6056, or just drop by our office at 1015 South Madison St., Whiteville. There’s no story too big or too little for The Good News.