• Sunday at 4 p.m. is the kickoff for this year’s See You At the Pole rally. There will be free food, praise music, and a special message from Pastor Nate Watts at 38 White’s Plaza Shopping Center in Whiteville. Wednesday is the nationwide See You at the Pole, where students gather at flagpoles on campuses across the country to pray. Sunday’s event is free and everyone is welcome.
• Our neighbors in Brunswick County took one on the chin with this week’s almost tropical system, and they really need our help. Whiteville Firefighters are collecting nonperishable foods, cases of water, baby needs and toilet articles to help with relief efforts in Brunswick. They hope to deliver a trailer load Monday. Drop your donations by the WFD station on East Columbus Street.
• Fix a Friend in Winnabow lost their clinic in the flooding this week. They have supplied more than 120,000 low-cost spay and neuter operations for pets since 2013, and they’re the largest clinic in the Cape Fear Region. We have a story at Columbuscountynews.com on how you can help them rebuild bigger and better.
• Whiteville Police Sgt. Chuck Arnold recently suffered a severe brain bleed while on duty. He is currently in Novant New Hanover and will be hospitalized for an extended period of time. WPD is asking for donations to assist Sgt. Arnold and his wife over the next several weeks. Donations are being accepted by CashApp and Venmo. You can also donate at Whiteville Police Department (117 E. Columbus St, Whiteville NC 28472).
• Our hero for the week is Kenjy “The Flash” Bowen. The former East Columbus Football and baseball standout was heading home Monday when he and his girlfriend Caityn Cahill spotted a truck trapped in floodwaters. The Flash successfully rescued the couple and their dog just before the truck washed away. See this story on our website for the whole adventure.
• We have another hero story for this week, and this one involved a bunch of folks. When Acme Delco Riegelwood sent out a call for mutual aid from ONE department Monday, they got much more of a response than they expected.
Multiple departments sent personnel, boat crews and high clearance vehicles to ADR to help rescue stranded motorists, evacuate people from their homes, and monitor road conditions. That’s a perfect example folks of why you need to thank your local volunteer fire and rescue volunteers.
• Nakina Pentecostal Holiness Church will host revival services Sept. 23-26 at 7 p.m. each night. Pastor Jerome Bullard of Bridge of Life church in Leland will be speaker. Nakina PHC is located at 9745 Seven Creeks Highway.
• Remember how mama used to frantically clean the house whenever company was coming? This is your chance to do the same.
Whiteville businesses are being asked to spruce up for some company. The city will be hosting a NC Mainstreet meeting in less than two weeks. More than 100 visitors from across the state expected to attend.
This meeting presents a valuable opportunity for the City of Whiteville to be selected as a host and showcase all our wonderful businesses. Business owners are encouraged to remove your sandbags and maybe put a little extra shine on our already nice downtown.
• St. Paul AME Zion Church on Moneyhole Road in Freeman has a food pantry every Thursday at noon. Everyone is welcome.
• It may only be September, but it’s not too early to be planning your Halloween costume. Downtown Whiteville will once again host its adult costume party at Vineland Station on oct. 25 at 7 p.m. Cost is $20 for adults 21 and over. There will be prizes awarded for the best individual and couples costumes.
• Transformation Church will hold a Boston butt sale October 5. Cost is $25. All proceeds go to the building fund. Contact JonBoy Walton or Rae Lennon via Facebook.
Transformation Church and MilkB4 Meat Ministries has moved its second annual Night of Praise Sept. 28. There will be music from the Oxendines, four local church praise groups, 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.
• Braille resources are now available for blind children at Columbus County Smart Start. The Early Learning Family and Resource Center worked with the school system to make available materials ranging from learning aids to a free Braille book distribution program. Call 910-642-8226 for more information.
• The fourth annual Columbus County Partnership for children golf tourney is Sept. 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.
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.
