Columbus will be letting freedom ring all over the county this week. Independence Day activities will span from Tuesday through Saturday, from Tabor City to Lake Waccamaw, and everywhere in between. Fireworks, fundraisers, and parades will head up the celebrations as we step into the Good News for July 2.
Finder’s Keeper’s Thrift Store is known for their generous giving at different locations in need in Columbus County, and this week was no exception. The store collected four boxes of dog food and treats, two bags of cat food, several cans of wet cat/dog food, and lots of towels for Columbus County APS last month. They delivered the supplies on Monday morning along with 20 more bags and two boxes of animal food purchased by the secondhand shop themselves. Thank you for your kindness Finder’s Keeper’s.
The Greater Tabor City Chamber of Commerce has announced the date for the annual Columbus County Fireworks display. The event will be held on July 3 at South Columbus High School beginning 6 p.m. Music and entertainment will go on throughout the evening, and fireworks will fly at dusk. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase on site. No pets are allowed at the fireworks show, but service animals are welcome. Coolers, bags, or outside food or drinks will not be permitted. Absolutely no alcoholic beverages of any kind are to be brought anywhere on school property including the parking lot. For more information about this event, please contact the GTCCC at 910.377.3012.
The town of Lake Waccamaw will hold two events this year on July 4. The Lake Waccamaw Fire Department will sponsor their annual boot drive and hotdog sale, while the community will rally together for the first ever ‘Family Fourth’ golf cart and bicycle parade. The hot dog sale and boot drive will begin at 10 a.m. at the fire and rescue department located at 203 Flemington drive. Attendees are invited to eat there or take their food to go. First responders and fire trucks will be set up on Flemington to take up any donations that patrons would like to throw in the boot.
The line up for the ‘Family Fourth’ golf cart and bicycle parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Elizabeth Brinkley Park. Participants are asked to decorate their carts and bikes in patriotic themes and colors for the event. The route will proceed from the park, down Lake Shore Drive, and end at Town Hall for the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. A special treat provided by Hills will be handed out the bikers and golf cart riders after the event. There is no registration required for the parade.
The town of Chadbourn will host their first ‘Food Truck and Fireworks Show’ on Saturday, July 5, from 5-9 p.m. A variety of food trucks will be lined up along North Brown Street next to Town Hall, and a fireworks display will light up the sky at the Strawberry Event Field beside the Food Lion.
The Veterans Memorial Park of America will have their second annual ‘Freedom Fest’ on Saturday, July 5, from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the park. Vendors, food trucks, yard sale participants, and kid-friendly activities are welcome. Setup for the the event will be on July 4 from 5-7 p.m. Those interested can call 910.640.8669 for more information. The park is located at 6354 James B. White Highway South in Whiteville. The Columbus Community Band will also play on Saturday, July 5, at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Park of America at the event.
The Community Art Journey will be hosting an oil painting class with Karen Sboto, certified Bob Ross instructor, on July 5 at 9 a.m. and again at 5 p.m. Those interested can call or text Sboto at 910.262.9728. The facility can be found at 112 F Hillcrest Plaza in Lake Waccamaw.
The First Responder Basketball Tournament hosted by the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office will be on July 12 at 12 p.m. at West Columbus High School. Admission is $5 per person, and all proceeds will go to Families First to help support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Teams include the CCSO, City of Whiteville Fire Department, Brunswick Volunteer Fire Department, the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.
Columbus County Library wants you to give the gift of life on Wednesday, 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.
The Columbus County Sheriff’s Animal Protective Services is not only receiving blessings, but they are also commended for being a blessing when it comes to the animals housed there. APS contacted the Adopt-An-Angel rescue to pull 15 cats from the facility last week. These precious furbabies will now have a second chance to find loving homes, warm laps, and the safety they so deserve.
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/.
The Columbus Baptist Association is now accepting sign-ups for their fifteenth annual Toy Store Golf Tournament. There will be two rounds-morning and afternoon, on Saturday, Sept. 16, at Lake-O-Lakes Golf Course. There is a limit of 22 teams per round, and the cost for each four-man team is $300. The price will include greens fee, cart, lunch, snacks, and drinks. The morning round will have registration at 8 a.m., and teams will register for the afternoon tournament at 12:30 p.m. Those interested can call the CBA office to enter your team.
There’s a new sheriff in town in Lake Waccamaw, but he’s an old familiar face. Corey Finch, a long-time officer on the department, was sworn in as the Lake’s new police chief on Monday. He was thanked by town leaders for “bringing a renewed sense of purpose and dedication to serving and protecting the community.” Congratulations Chief Finch on your new position.
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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