August is off to a flying start as teachers and kids gear up to return to school. Before getting back into the swing of bells, ball practice, and books, check out a concert, head off to the museum, or volunteer for a good cause. Let’s take a look at what Columbus has to offer in this week’s edition of the Good News.
Bethel Methodist Church will be hosting a free Christian Metal concert on Aug. 9 from 5:30-10 p.m. The event will feature Cast to Sea with 333, and the show is open to all ages. There will be food, fellowship, and more. The church is located at 2733 MM Ray Road in Clarendon.
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The Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum will have their Railroad Dinner on Aug. 8 at 6:30 p.m. Bring a dish and enjoy food and fellowship with the locals. Any donations made will be shared between the depot and the Rube McCray Memorial Library. The museum can be found at 201 Flemington Drive.
Speaking of Lake Waccamaw, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission trained eight leaders from the LW Police Department and the LW State Park as Jurisdictional Alligator Handlers. These awesome individuals will assist the NCWRC with local alligator response.
Folks are invited to join the NC Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville on Aug. 9 from 2-4 p.m. for ‘Studying Dragonflies with 10,000 of my Closest Friends.’ Learn how Chris Goforth, Head of Collaborative Sciences, has explored dragonfly behaviors through her citizen science projects. After the presentation, stay for an activity about a different kind of flying insect- the moth. Mock moth night will show you how to create your own moth observation kit. This event is free to attend, and the museum can be found at 415 South Madison Street in Whiteville. Call 910.788.5100 for more information.
The Whiteville Police Department is now partnering with Gentiva Hospice to promote their “We Call, We Care” program. This is a free daily phone check-in service for older adults, disabled individuals, and shut-ins living alone within city limits. Each day, Chief Rockenbach or a WPD team member will call participants between 8-11 a.m. to ensure they’re safe and well. If there is no answer after 3 attempts, they will call a designated key holder. If necessary, an officer will respond in person to check on the individual. To sign up, please complete a form at www.whitevillenc.gov/police-department.
Two Columbus Career and College Academy students will be traveling to Oslo, Norway in November for the World Martial Arts Games. Grace Watts earned two gold medals and one silver medal at the U.S. Open ISKA World Martial Arts Championships in Orlando. Fla at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. She finished first in the Girls 15-17 Division in Point Fighting and Clash Fighting and placed second in Continuous Fighting. Eli Johnson finished in the top five for Point Fighting in the Boys 14-15 Division, and he also advanced in Creative Weapons at the event. Congratulations youngsters, and good luck in Norway.
The Food Bank of Wilmington will have a pop-up market on Aug. 16 from 9-11 a.m. at Jerusalem Chapel Free Will Baptist Church. There are no income, residency or ID requirements to receive assistance. The church is located at 6224 Chadbourn Highway in Chadbourn.
The North Carolina Extension and Community Association Foundation will be sponsoring an event for the Boys and Girls Home of NC on Aug. 16. ECA Day will be from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the BGHNC campus, and food will be provided. Organizations, civic groups, and individuals attending are asked to register at www.go.ncsu.edu/ecaboysgirlsday. Please be sure to indicate the items you will be donating to the BGHNC cottages. For more information, call Tom Lamont at 910.646.3083 or email tom.lamont@bghnc.org.
Union Valley Baptist Church will have their fifth annual “Christmas in August” auction and fundraiser on Aug. 16. The evening will begin with dinner at 5 p.m., and the auction will be at 6 p.m. The meal will include a Boston butt steak, baked potato, baked beans, a bread roll, dessert and tea. Items for auction will be shared with the public periodically on the Union Valley Baptist Church Facebook page. Bids will be taken through Facebook Live on the night of the event, but in-person participation is encouraged. Proceeds raised will be donated to the Columbus Baptist Association Toy Store Ministry and others. You can RSVP for the meal on the church’s Facebook post.
The Community Art Journey will also be celebrating dragonflies with their Aug. 17 workshop. Folks will be painting their own acrylic painting of the beautiful insects on canvas with Heather Minor. She will be teaching color theory, composition, and basic technique. The cost is $20 for a 12″ x 16″canvas. Call 208.989.9116 to sign up.
The Wolf Pack will welcome their newest pups, the Class of 2029, on Aug. 20 from 9-11 a.m. at the school. There will be campus tours, facility introductions, and club and extracurricular information. Schedules will be passed out during the orientation, and students can also learn about advanced classes and their benefits. The kids will enjoy free Kona Ice and prizes for attendance. Whiteville High School can be found at 413 North Lee Street.
East Columbus Junior/Senior High School will have their open house on Aug. 21 from 5-7 p.m. There will be a parent meeting for grades 7-12 in the auditorium at 6 p.m. The school is located at 32 Gator Lane in Lake Waccamaw.
The Columbus Baptist Association will have their kick-off Backpack Buddy Packing Party on Monday, Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the CBA office. This year, funding for the Backpack Ministry has been drastically reduced, and the organization needs churches, local businesses, and civic groups to fill in the shortfall. If you would like to donate, you can send checks made payable to the CBA with “Backpack” written on the memo line to 208 South Thompson Street, Whiteville, NC 28472. Item collections can be brought to the CBA office Monday-Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Below is a list of foods needed for this year’s ministry:
Individual size pop-top cans (7.5oz) of ravioli, Vienna Sausages, Spaghetti-Os, Beefaroni, Beanie Weenies, etc.
Juice Boxes (not the pouches)
Pop Tarts
Granola Bars
Fruit Cups
Pudding Cups
Individual Cereal Boxes (little boxes not the little tubs)
Rice Krispy Treats
Raisins
Square Nabs (crackers)
Fruit Snacks
The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting applications for its upcoming Citizens Academy, scheduled to begin Sept. 16. This free, 10-week program offers citizens a behind-the-scenes look at how the Sheriff’s Office operates, with in-depth sessions led by deputies, investigators, detention staff, and specialized units. Participants will meet once a week, every Tuesday from 6-9 p.m., for interactive presentations, facility tours, and hands-on learning activities that cover topics such as patrol procedures, criminal investigations, K9 demonstrations, court operations, detention services, and more. The enrollment period is open through Aug. 29, and space is limited. To apply visit: columbussheriff.com/citizens-academy/. For more information email pcarrano@columbussheriff.com.
The second annual Jessalyn Wray Batton Walk to Remember will be on Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. at the Coastal Family Urgent Care located at 310 Liberty Street in Whiteville. There will be vendors, food trucks, fellowship, a memory walk, and t-shirts for sale. All proceeds from the event will go to Breast Cancer screenings for uninsured women. Last year, the charity raised enough money for thirteen mammograms and three diagnostic mammograms and ultrasounds. Signups for screenings will also be available on site. For details, call Brittany at 910.317.5550.
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.
