Hurricane Debby put a damper, a really big damper, on most of our good news activities this week. Still, we have been there and done that when it comes to storms in Columbus, so nobody is going to let a little old hurricane get in the way of too much.
Back to school day at the Columbus County Farmers Market has been postponed until next Saturday, Aug. 17. There will be free bookbags and supplies as well as fresh produce and local meat, arts and crafts, jewelry and more, all produced by your neighbors here in our county. Okra Day is coming up soon, too.
Transformation Church and MilkB4 Meat Ministries will host its second annual Night of Praise September 21. There will be music and a special message by Pastor Heath Connor of Emerson Original Free Will Baptist church. The service will be at 6354 James B. white Hwy. South of Whiteville. Everyone is welcome. Transformation meets at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the Lebanon fellowship hall.
Backpack Buddies for the new school year begins August 19 at the Columbus Baptist Association Office. Volunteers are needed to help fill bags for children who might not have good meals when they are away from campus. The association office is on Franklin Street in Whiteville. Call 642. 2155.
Food trucks are needed for Family Fur Day August 31 at the Columbus County Fairgrounds. Sponsored by Columbus Animal Protective Services, you can enjoy games, a petting zoo, and adoptable animals from the shelter. This is the third year for the event. Call 910.641.3945 for more information.
The fourth annual Columbus County Partnership for children golf tourney is September 27 at Vineland Golf Course. It’s the first time the group will host the event at Vineland. Call 910.642.8226 for registration and sponsorship information.
Tee It Up For Veterans Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, Aug. 17 at Diamondback Golf Course (Woodland Valley) in Loris. All proceeds go to the Veterans Memorial Park of America Community Outreach Center. Early registration is encouraged. Call Angela Norris at 910.840.3848. See this story online for more information.
If you like heroes and Good Samaritans, we have them this week, for sure.
From the somebody ought to do something folder, Greg Hewitt, Doug Smith, John Deans and others escorted a licensed explosives technician into Soules Swamp Monday. The technician blew a large hole in the beaver dam that was impeding the flow of stormwater from downtown Whiteville. While it can’t be known for sure, it’s likely the effort reduced much of the anticipated flooding in the business district. It’s highly unlikely the beavers approved, however.
City of Whiteville crews were out in the worst of Hurricane Debby clearing drains that had become clogged by debris. The hardworking folks at public works never get the credit they deserve, but without them the city would be nowhere near as nice of a place for folks to call home.
Columbus County EMS Inc., along with folks from Black’s Tire, Whiteville Fire Department, and others moved all the patients, staff and equipment from Shoreland Healthcare during Debby’s visit to our area. Everyone involved went above and beyond, literally working all night to get the patients safely aboard ambulances and a Brunswick county sheriff’s office bus for transport to other facilities.
Black’s Tire stepped up with box trucks for moving equipment. It was the first time CCEMS worked with the city as the primary medical transporter during a storm.
Sometimes our furry and feathered friends need help during a storm, too. Miriah Kidd was monitoring a baby mockingbird that had fallen from its nest a few days before the storm. She kept a weather eye on the fledgling while mom and dad continued feeding it on the ground.
However, when Debby threatened to flood the area, Miss Miriah contacted a local wildlife rehabber and got the mockingbird to safely while she was on her way to work as a nurse at Columbus Regional. At last report, the bird is recovering just fine. Like we always say, caring nurses are true superheroes.
Nancy Etheridge Varney, best known for her Columbus county History page on Facebook, has a new best friend named Stormy. Nancy found the kitten on Bill Hooks Road during the storm, and took it home. Stormy is now warm, safe and loved, and maybe a little bit spoiled.
Thanks for joining us today for the Good News. We always have room for your church announcements, civic club news, special events, birthdays, pageant winners, celebrations, Good Samaritans, little kids with big fish and anything else that makes you smile. There is never a charge for sharing your news at Columbus County News Dot com. Email jeffersonweaver@columbuscountynews.com, call 910.914.6056, or just drop by our office at 1015 South Madison street, Whiteville. We love visitors.
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