Columbus County News and WTXY 103.9 KOOL FM would like to wish everyone a happy and blessed New Year. With a new year comes new opportunities so be sure to take advantage of everything the area has to offer.
• Kelly Greene Davis organized the Columbus County Adopt a Deputy event for the men and women in blue last week. Davis organizes the program each year to ensure that every deputy feels appreciated by way of gifts and donations from churches, organizations, and individuals.
• Southeastern Community College will cover tuition and fees for students enrolling in the Spring 2022 semester.
New students can register in Student Services, and current students can register with their faculty advisor and work with Financial Aid to complete a FAFSA in order to receive free college tuition. SCC free college will be a “last dollar” program, meaning the college will exhaust all other existing funding first. The money is available through federal, state, and generous donor support. This assistance is meant to help students recover from the pandemic and get back to college. For questions about enrolling at SCC for free, contact the financial aid office at 910.788.6214.
• The Boys and Girls Home of North Carolina is seeking to fill a position of Cottage Life Assistant Coach. Life coaches provide a safe environment for neglected and abused children, and offer nurturing and supportive caregiver relationships to these youth. You provide appropriate role modeling, and consistent and adequate structure enhancing a child’s ability to make responsible and safe choices.
For more information or to fill out an application, go to the website at www.boysandgirlshomes.org. 
• If you’re looking to start off the new year with new furry friend, adoption fees at the Columbus County Sheriff’s Animal Protective Services are now half price. Fees for dogs are $67.50. Fees for female cats are $37.50, and the cost for male cats is $27.50.
The adoption fees for dogs cover a spay or neuter voucher, rabies, parvo, and Bordetella vaccines, and deworming. Costs for cats include a spay or neuter voucher and rabies vaccine. The facility is located at 288 Legion Drive in Whiteville. For more information about animal adoption, call 910.641.3945.
• Chloe McGraw, Princess of Southern Carolina Little Miss, stopped by the Whiteville police department to drop off some holiday goodies to officers for Christmas. Thank you to all the men and women in uniform who had to work on Christmas Day.
• Doug Smith and Randy Earp are spearheading an effort by New Life Community Church to provide some relief for tornado victims in Kentucky. The men are transporting their first loads of donations to Kentucky this weekend. Future trips are in the works. We’ll have more on how you can help at Columbuscountynews.com.
• Patrick Sawmill is the first employee at the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office to enter the new Candidate Program. The program allows detention center officers to work toward the chance to be selected for Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET). This allows them to join the law enforcement sector while still maintaining their detention staff position. Candidates must be employed as a detention officer for one year, earn their detention certification, and earn academic, physical, and firearm qualifications.
• Smithfield’s Chicken and BBQ’s grand opening and ribbon cutting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 9:45 a.m. The new restaurant is located at 1203 North J.K. Powell Boulevard in Whiteville.
The Good News is featured every Saturday morning on WTXY, and throughout the week under the Good News tab at z2j.c7e.myftpupload.com. Email crystalfaircloth@columbuscounty.news with your church announcements, fundraisers, yard sales, club news, community celebrations, or just plain happy stories. There is no charge for publicizing your events.
