Columbus County is pulling out all the stops by way of inspiration, donation, and celebration in this week’s Good News edition. There are people headed overseas to spread the gospel, little kids doing great things, and community organizations looking to make a difference in their own backyard. Read all about the ways you can help out at an event near you.
Columbus County Library wants you to give the gift of life today, July 16, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The facility will be sponsoring a blood drive with the Red Cross. Walk-ins are welcome, but you can sign up for an appointment by visiting www.redcrossblood.org. The library is located at 407 North JK Powell Boulevard in Whiteville.
Columbus County now has a new option to pay your water bill via phone or online. The IVR-Phone Pay number is 1.877.776.3703. or you can go to www. EdmundsGovPay.com/ColumbusCounty to make your payment. The phone system requires your new account number located on the bill sent out in June, while the online method allows you to search for the account information by physical address. If you need help or have any questions, you can call the Columbus County Collections Center at 910.642.5257.
The Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum celebrated their forty-eighth birthday on July 10. It was officially opened in 1977 as a museum after being moved from the tracks to its permanent location beside Lake Waccamaw Town Hall. Happy birthday from CCN.
The Holiness Tabernacle Church of Tabor City and Associate Pastor Robert Nealey will be having a BBQ plate sale on July 18 beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the 701 bypass in front of Budget Printing and Tint Wizards in Whiteville. All proceeds will go to the church’s African missions team for their annual trip in August. Plates are $10 each and will include BBQ, baked beans, slaw, and a roll. You can purchase a whole Boston butt for $60, fresh squeezed lemonade for $5, and canned drinks will be $2 each. Call or text 910.918.1491 to preorder.
The Columbus County Animal Protective Services will be bringing the community and animals at the shelter together for the ‘Paws, Music, and Moonlight’ event this Saturday, July 19, starting at 7 p.m. There will be live music, local vendors, food, and plenty of furry friends up for adoption. Those interested donating decorations, being a vendor, or playing music that evening are asked to contact the APS by calling 910.641.3945 or send an email to animal.services@columbussheriff.com.
The first 2025-2026 school year meeting of the East Columbus Education Foundation Swamp Keepers will be on Monday, July 21, at 6 p.m. at the East Columbus Junior/Senior High School Media Center. Topics of discussion will be supporting the school, a night of worship, fall fundraisers, and the adaptive playground. Come out and find out how you can make a difference.
If you’re up for a little outdoor movie, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville will be showing “Mufusa: The Lion King” on July 25 at their next installment of Movies on Madison. The lawn will open at 7:30 p.m. for folks to learn about amazing animals who prowl at night, and the movie will be shown at 8 p.m. This is a family-friendly event, so no pets, coolers, alcohol, or smoking will be permitted. Refreshments will be available for purchase. NCMNS-W is located at 415 South Madison Street in Whiteville.
If your child needs school supplies, then you may want to head over to 116 Miller Street in Chadbourn for the H.E.A.R.T.S. Foundation’s annual supply drive. Beginning at 3 p.m., the nonprofit will hand out backpacks fill with everything your youngster needs to start the school year off right. The drive will continue until the last bag is given away. To keep traffic flowing, all parents are asked to stay in the car and pay attention to the officers directing vehicles to the location. There are also a few rules to follow for this year’s drive. No items will be given away to folks who walk up on foot, and all school aged children must be present in the car to receive a backpack. The foundation will not be handing supplies out to adults who do not have their kiddos with them. For more information about the charity, contact Lashoney Frink-Southern at 910.625.1745.
Any students at Whiteville High School interested in raising and showing a pig at the Columbus Agricultural Fair are asked to speak to FFA Advisor Ashley Fowler by calling 910.499.3552. This is open to all WHS students including rising freshmen. Pig pick up will be on July 31, and all pigs must be reserved in advance.
The town of Fair Bluff will hold their annual Watermelon Festival on Saturday, July 26. The day will begin at 7 a.m. with watermelon contest registration and vendor setup. Alyssa Strickland will sing the ‘National Anthem’ at 8:55 a.m., and the parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. For the full list of festival events, visit https://columbuscountynews.com/2025-fair-bluff-watermelon-festival/.
A little boy named Carter made a big statement for the sake of animals over in Brunswick County last week. The youngster held a bake sale and used the money he earned to buy supplies for the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office APS. Thank you for caring about the animals at the shelter and for being a role model to others Carter.
Whiteville and Chadbourn police departments are already planning community shindigs for ‘National Night Out’ on Aug. 5. Whiteville will hold their event from 6-8:30 p.m. in the City Hall parking lot, and Chadbourn PD and other first responders will hang out with residents at the Strawberry Event Field from 6-8 p.m. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign to promote police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.
It’s never too early to plan for Christmas, and a local organization is making sure that no child will be without gifts this coming holiday season. The Columbus Baptist Association is now accepting sponsorships for children for the fifteenth annual CBA Toy Store. The cost per child is $100, and the donation will help parents receive toys for their kid for Christmas. Your name will also appear on the banner at the CBA golf tournament fundraiser. To be a sponsor, visit www.columbusbaptistnc.org/donate and follow the prompts, or you can write a check and send it to Columbus Baptist Association, 208 South Thompson Street, Whiteville, N.C. 28472.
School is out for summer, but not quite out forever. That’s ok because the Columbus County Health Department will be hosting a feel-good event to help students get back into the swing of things. On August 8, the department will hold their “Back to School” celebration from 1-4 p.m. The afternoon will include games, prizes, free school supplies, and health information for the whole family. The facility can be found at 304 Jefferson Street in Whiteville.
The Columbus County Farmers Market has a ton of events planned for everyone for the rest of 2025. Aug. 9 is Back to School Day, Sept. 13 is Honey Day, Sept. 27 is the Fall Harvest Festival, Oct. 18 is Chicken Bog and BBQ Day, Nov. 15 is Collards, Cornbread, and Sweet Potato Day, and on Dec. 13, the facility will host Christmas from the Heart. You don’t have to wait for these dates to roll around before you can head out and shop at the market. They are open every Saturday from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 132 Government Complex Drive in Whiteville. To find out about all the vendor wares and produce for sale, be sure to visit the Columbus County Farmers Market Facebook page.
Remember to check out our Good News tab throughout the week. We love to hear about all the great things happening around you. Email your submissions to thegoodnews@columbuscountynews.com or crystalfaircloth@columbuscountynews.com; call us at 910.914.6056 or just drop by our office at 1015 South Madison St., Whiteville. We love visitors. If the blinds are open, we’re open for business.
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