It’s going to be a hot one for the first weekend of summer vacation in Columbus County. If you’re looking for ways to beat the heat, head to the water at Lake Waccamaw, or visit the museum for Storytime. Be sure to log onto www.columbuscountynews.com for absolutely free to catch up on any news you’ve missed this week. Get your news delivered every morning to your inbox before your coffee ever hits your cup by signing up for our daily newsletter.
Join the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville for Second Saturday Storytime on Saturday, June 10, at 10:30 a.m. Staff will be reading and speaking about oceans and the amazing creatures that can be found there. A nature-related activity will follow. This program is for kids ages 2–5 years old, but all are welcome. Second Saturday Storytime is sponsored by the Columbus Council of North Carolina Reading Association in partnership with the NCMNS. The event is held every second Saturday of each month at the museum. The facility can be found at 415 South Madison Street.
Brown Street Station in Chadbourn will also be open every second Saturday of the month for the Main Street Market. Live entertainment and vendors will be there from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. for the public to enjoy. The venue is located at 202 North Brown Street. For more information about vendors opportunities, call 910.477.8080.
The Lake Waccamaw Fire and Rescue Department were a hit at the 2023 First Responder softball game. The Columbus County team brought home the championship trophy.
As schools close for the summer, Columbus County churches are setting up for their Vacation Bible Schools. From the eastern end to the west, there are plenty of opportunities for children and their families to participate in one of many events. Some of them begin this weekend. If you would like your church added to the list, please send an email to crystalfaircloth@columbuscounty.news. Visit https://columbuscountynews.com/2023/06/vbs-guide-for-summer-2023/ to see local churches and their VBS dates.
Columbus County resident Amy Sessions recently returned home from her missionary trip with Mission of Hope: Rotifunk Hospital. Sessions travels to the third world country in Sierra Leone, Africa every year to help provide medical care to pregnant women and children. It’s one of the poorest counties in the world. Many have asked about how to make donations to Mission of Hope, and Sessions encourages everyone to do so by either dropping a check off at Baldwin Woods Pharmacy, or by visiting the website at https://rotifunk.org/.
The Lakeside Ministry will run every Sunday through Labor Day at 9 a.m. at the Lake Waccamaw campground pavilion. This Sunday, June 11, the speaker will be Rusty Davis, and the singer will be Hannah Battley.
Pireway OFWB Church will be having revival starting Sunday, June 11, at 6 p.m. The event will continue through June 17 with services beginning at 7:30 p.m. each evening. The church can be found at 16213 Swamp Fox Highway East in Tabor City. Call Pastor Jacob Cribb at 910.363.6516 with any questions.
Impact Ministries with Engage Life Church will be having their annual bake sale on Saturday, June 17, starting at 8 a.m. Proceeds will go towards sponsoring a child at Falcon’s Christian Academy. The benefit will be held in the parking lot behind Sue’s Diner across from the old Columbus County Courthouse.
The Columbus County Farmers Market will hold their Farm-to-Table benefit dinner on Thursday, June 22, at 6 p.m. at The Spillway in Whiteville. The fundraiser will include a meal prepared with locally sourced food and a silent auction. A cash bar will also be available. Tickets are $50 each, or your business can sponsor a table for $500. To reserve your seat, contact Amber Howard at 910.234.4620 or by email at ameares321@gmail.com. Proceeds from the event will go towards upgrades and repair for the Columbus County Farmers Market commercial kitchen.
Columbus County Parks and Recreation is now accepting registration forms for youth fall soccer through June 30 for boys and girls ages 4-12 years old. You can register your child in person at the facility located at 306 Jefferson Street in Whiteville from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. and from 1 – 4 p.m. For more information, call 910.640.6624.
Shizzy’s Wildcat Rescue in Fair Bluff will be holding one more volunteer workday this month on June 24. You must be 18 years old or older to use tools and climb ladders. If you would like to volunteer at Shizzy’s Wildcat Rescue, find out more information, make a donation, or become a sponsor, you can contact Rhonda Billeaud, co-chairman for Shizzy’s, by phone at 910.840.1886. You can also send her an email at rhondabilleaud@shizzyswildcatrescue.org. The full summer schedule for Shizzy’s can be found at https://columbuscountynews.com/2023/05/shizzys-wildcat-rescue-updated-summer-schedule/.
Waccamaw Siouan pageant applications will be open on Monday, June 12. The event is for lady tribal members ages 0 to 55 years old and older. Forms can be found at the Tribal Office or on the website at https://waccamaw-siouan.org/.
If you miss Second Saturday Storytime at the museum, you’ll get the opportunity to attend Thursday Storytime on June 15, at 10:30 a.m. This program is held every third Thursday of the month. Museum staff will be reading the crowd-pleaser Dinosaurs! Children ages 2-5 years old are invited to attend, but book-lovers of any age are encouraged to join in on the fun.
The H.E.A.R.T.S. Foundation will have their annual kickball tournament on Saturday, June 17, at 12 p.m. Team registration starts at 11 a.m., and vendors can peddle their wares for $25. There will be live music and food available from Shirley’s Kitchen. Admission is $1 for kids 12 and under, and $2 for everyone 13 and up. Bring your lawn chair and blankets to 116 Miller Street in Chadbourn to enjoy a day of kickball and fun.
Welcome PFWB Church will be having a number of events during the month of June. The organization will have VBS registration on June 14 at 7 p.m., VBS camp on June 21 at 7 p.m., and all day VBS on June 25 from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Waterslides and a cookout will follow. On June 25, the church will have VBS commencement from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., and their annual fried chicken plate sale will be held afterwards. Plates are $8 each. Welcome Church is located at 3104 Old Cribbtown Road in Chadbourn. Call 910.653.9284 if you have any questions.
The town of Fair Bluff Watermelon Festival has announced one of its first contests for the celebration. The Creative Watermelon Hat contest will take place on festival day, July 29, at Riverside Drive. The entry fee is $10, and the time will be announced soon. Visit www.fairbluff.com to stay up to date on the latest watermelon information.
The Lake Waccamaw Fire and Rescue Department will be holding their annual boot drop and hotdog sale on Tuesday, July 4, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Members will be set up in front of the station located at 203 Flemington Drive for the Independence Day fundraiser.
The GOOD NEWS is featured every Saturday morning on WTXY Kool 103.9 FM, and throughout the week under the GOOD NEWS tab at columbuscountynews.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.
