PAGE 2 — WEST CRAVEN HIGHLIGHTS — MAY IS, 1988
Eastern
Echoes
By
Gail Roberson
The Final Say
Disgruntled husbands get their revenge and final say by way
of their wives’ epitaphs. Here are a few instances: “Beneath
this stone my wife doth lie, now she’s at rest, and so am I.’
Another one proclaims: “Here lies my wife in earthly mould,
who when she lived, did nought but scold. Peace wake her not,
for now she’s still, she had, but now I have my will.” My
favorite, says: “Here lies my poor wife, without bed or blanket,
but dead as a door-nail, and God be thankit.”
You can use your tombstone to brag a little, as this man, now
buried in a Georgia cemetery: “Here lies the father of twenty-
nine, he would have had more but he didn’t have time.”
This child’s epitaph poses an interesting question: “Since I
am so quickly done for, I wonder what I was begun for?”
And, believe it or not, somebody actually has this inscribed
on their monument: “Thanks for calling. I am unable to
answer. Please leave a message.” Can you believe that?
“The nicest story I’ve ever heard about epitaphs has to do
with a widower, who, in his bereavement, expressed sad feel
ings by having engraved on the stone of his wife, “My light has
gone out.” You see, he was about to marry again. He asked the
advice of his Bishop, as to whether or not he should have the
inscription erased, as it seemed at variance with the new con
dition in his life. “Oh, no,” said the Bishop. “I wouldn’t have it
taken off. Just put underneath it, “I have struck another
match.”
You know, I really miss the inscriptions on old tombstones.
You could learn much about a person by just standing at the
foot of their grave. Today, we simply use the name, dates of
birth and death, and perhaps a Bible verse. Given a choice. I’d
much rather walk through the old plots than the new
graveyards, because I always leave filled with knowledge of
those who are buried there. ’They continue to live through the
words they’ve left behind.
Have you ever known someone whose epitaph should read,
“Died at 30. Buried at 60.” The final say is usually the truth,
you know. Let’s try hard not to leave that kind of legacy
behind.
Honor Roll
The following students were
named to either the Principal’s
List or Honor Roll at West
Craven Middle School for the
fifth grading period:
Principal's Ual
Sixth grade — David Walls,
Julie Wetherington.
Seventh grade — Koneisha
Ward, Kathryn Eatmon, Crystal
Powers, Tanya Webber, Jeff
Schoch, Tonja Freeman, Heather
Nowajewski, Rosemary Riggs,
Cindy Jordan, Heather Bright,
Charlie Moore, Heather English,
Ivy Oakley and Candi Register.
Eighth grade — Lori Demoret,
Diane Morgan, Sara Bateman,
Alena Smith, Catherine Salter,
Scherrie Hargett, Janice Rowe,
Helen Civils, Cheryl Snider, Cris-
tle Ballenger, Susan Bowers and
Christy Hart.
Honor Roil
Sixth grade — Carrie Ballen
ger, Debbie Morgan, Janet Pate,
Jason Brumbelow, Amy Bryan,
Edward Ipock, Edward Redditt,
Jennifer Whaley, Melissa Wig
gins, Amy Williams, Del Bennett,
Jeremy Broadway, Tanisha
Jones, lamnie Long, Amy Morse,
Elijah Pugh, Michael Dail, Char
ity Laughinghouse, Cheryl
McCoy, Tammy Riggs, Tammy
White, Michelle Gardner, Robbie
Humphrey, Brian Cobb, Chris
Hamilton, Christie Hawkins,
April Kirkman, Joey Nobles,
Michael Riggs and Mike Whit-
ford.
Seventh grade—Connie Ches-
ner, Tina Fillingame, Melissa
Phifer, Joe French, Donna
Laughinghouse, Amy Wiggins,
RaMarie Bazemore, Ray Griflln,
Allen Kornegay, Sam Moore,
Mary Ricks, Kristy Wilson, Dal
ton Gaskins, Rob Stallings,
’Theresa Moore, Stephanie Wig
gins, Stephanie Weatherington,
Jay Smith, Debenee Dawson,
Lisa Ipock, Susan Lewis and
Keisha Smith.
Eighth grade — Kim Gabhart,
Annika Harris, Mary Grace
Opphile, Stephanie Peterson,
Sylvonia Cox, Ernest Cutler,
Chris Dixon, Michelle Elkins,
Marlon Miller, Dawn Vetter,
Robyn Allen, Terri Baker, Chris
Carrier, Tekeisha Manley, Jay
Tyree, Randy Davis, ’Tonya
Adair, Derek Adams, Trisha
Clark, Jackie Harris, Lovella Per
kins, Snow White, Laura Cope,
Angela Jones, Eddie Moore,
Melissa Wiggins, Roscoe Ful-
more, April L. Gaskins, Michelle
Lamonds, Hope Mitchell, Kim
Russell, Tina Stilley, Charity
Adams, Dana Beck, Janet Col
lins and Michelle Wiggins.
AMERICAN
CANCER
SOCIETY*
We Buy
Standing
Pine
and
Hardwood
Timber
A
WeyerhMUMr
919-633-7455
Our Opinion
A Job Well Done
I love browsing through old cemeteries. Like large libraries,
they teach you much when you spend some time there. Alive.
Old monuments attract me, but it’s the epitaphs that cause me
to linger. Someone once said that the tombstone was the only
thing that could stand upright and lie on its face at the same
time. But, unlike some mourners who forget all the evils of the
deceased and inscribe flowery words of praise, occasionally
survivors tell the truth and nothing but...
“Here lies the carcass of a cursed sinner, doomed to be
roasted for the Devil’s dinner.” Now, that really leaves little to
the imagination. “Here lies the body of Mary Ann, safe on the
bosom of Abraham. ’Tis not a bad deal for Mary Ann, but kind
of rough on Abraham.” From that one, we glean a bit of detail
about Mary Ann. And from the next, there is much left to read
between the lines.. .“Near to this stone John Barnet lies,
there’s no man frets nor no man cries, where he’s gone or how
he fares, there’s no man knows nor no man cares.”
Some people die such unusual deaths that their epitaphs
duly explain: “Here I lies, and no wonder I’m dead, for the
wheel of a wagon went over my head.” Or, “To all my friends I
bid adieu, a more sudden death you never knew. As I was
leading the old mare to drink, she kicked and killed me quick-
er’n a wink.” Now you see why I love spending time in old
cemeteries.
’The importance and professionalism of volunteer rescue
workers and firemen was evident at the industrial accident
‘Tuesday at the Weyerhaeuser pulp mill between Vanceboro
and New Bern.
More often than not, those who risk their lives and limbs for
others are thought of by the public as people who do what they
do as a hobby. Not so. These people are dead serious about
their work. 'They were tested Tuesday and by far met and
answered the challenge.
The professional emergency personnel could not say
enough about the efforts of the area rescue squads and fire
departments that responded to the accident. Rumors were
abundant. The firemen and rescue workers probably had no
real idea of what awaited them at the scene.
What could have been a potentially worse disaster was prob
ably averted by the actions of those who responded. Craven
County Emergency Services Director Stanley Kite said he was
pleased with the actions of the volunteers. Craven County
Emergency Management Coordinator Henry Sermons termed
the work of the volunteers “excellent.”
We know of no names to put with the many faces of the
volunteers that came when the call for help was luued. We
suspect that many of those volunteers would probably prefer
to remain anonymous. To those who were rescued, the names
didn’t matter, just the caring faces.
A hearty “thank you” should go out to the rescue workers
ftem Vanceboro. Cove City, Fort Barnwell, New Bern-Craven
County, Bridgeton and Craven County Hospital EMS. And
let’s not forget the firemen friim Vanceboro, Township No. 9,
Little Swift Creek and Township No. 7 and others who came to
help.
If not for these people, the real disaster would have been a
longer wait for help to arrive. Or waiting and no help arriving.
Out of tragedy, a renewed spirit in helping one’s fellow man
was seen.
Leave Well Enough Alone
If we could penalize the North Carolina High School Athle
tic Association, we would like to hit them with a major
penalty.
’The penalty? Illegal substitution, in a manner of speaking.
Every so often the NCHSAA decides to play musical chairs
with athletic teams. NCHSAA calls it realignment. They say
realignment is necessary in that schools either decrease or
increase in enrollment. These schools may find themselves far
ahead or far behind others in their conferences. If a school
passes the limits set for a particular class — A, AA, AAA or
AAAA — the NCHSAA attempts to put it in the proper confer
ence.
More often than not, realignment means rivals cannot com
pete against each other at the conference level. We think that
diminishes any rivalry, even if they can play non-conference
games. It also means a lot of travel. Sometimes a school in the
same classification, but different conference, is closer than a
conference foe. Closer does not translate into an automatic
game.
Currently the NCHSAA plans to revamp several confer
ences in the eastern part of the state. The changes will affect
West Craven High School. We prefer to leave things alone, if
possible.
Under an unofficial plan (a meeting was to have been held
today to make any official changes), the Coastal Conference
would lose Washington to the Tar-Roanoke Conference. With
the merger of Ahoskie and Murfreesboro high schools, the
Tar-Roanoke Conference would be gaining two new teams.
Both teams would be at the extreme geographical edges of the
conference.
Pender County and White Oak high schools would join the
Coastal Conferenece, as East Carteret drops to AA classifica
tion under the proposed plan.
By losing Washington and East Carteret, the Wfst Craven
uoEAfxmsjm
mKEfbRT*
IS^OTATIOHS
NORIIMIgrAmJIES'
A Gift to the
AMERJCATI CAMCER SOCIETY
MEMORIAL
V.
PROGRAM
jTmtans so much in cancer control.
CMVEN COUNTY BUSINESS AND SERVICES
WMREN MOTHERS
HMDWME
We Sell PVC Pipe-All Type
Flttings-Hardware-
GardenSeed & Fertilizer
SKCIRL 24 Ft. Muminum
SrEbML
Foot of the bridfo-Vaiicoboro
244.1MS
1 Braxton’s
1 Stop Bt Shop
* Finli twuta ■ rimi wmiwi
* Fina CKcknt • eocHin
* Friisay AtskfttpHcri
* M kMs 6f Femm f904
Emit Siy
* File t FltsH Mbs
Hwy. 17 N. Vaneeeoro 344-14S1
244-1381
H. M. B.
Morris Ploza
Vanceboro
Complete Family
Insurance Coverage
dW YTie Rellahle Cafportlian
Cy*t*>net SbIh'minxi''*
Robinson Insuranco
Agoncy, Inc.
P.O. Box 177
Now Boro, NC 28S0
633*11’/4
ssecMooueT.
NtWeiMC.N.C.MSM
TliiRHONR S37*4MS
^oux j^lamoncltSloxi
ROY L. WIGGINS
& SON
ELECTRICAL
CONTRACTOR
Residential. Commercloi S induofrioi
wiring
Service and Repoir
244-1MS
NC Uoenoe No. 11MS-U
A.T. OmnrU CoRttnwHan Co.
•RotMontial •Cammarcial
•MiNtioiis •Ramodalini
•Packs •Inturmca Jobs
Sub-Contrast SpMialitt
Office Home
TSt^OMJ a44«78a
Toltr 1 Son 6ara|6
Own«f k Opeioior louli Toler
Cirstora Eihauit t Mutflara
Radiator ■ Trantmittion
A Matar Strtict
Nwy 17, 3 miles North of
Voncoboro
24 Hour Wroekor Borvieo
244*1283
W~^
VANCEBORO HARDWARE
P. O. Box 820
Hwy 43 North
Vanceboro, NC 28586
J.D. Whitley (919)244-2444
ROOFINOMISIIIESS
Free Estimates
Guaranteed Work
References Avalloble
JotmuY FHNngMiit
244*2846
For information on advertis
ing your business or service in
this space caii either:
Terri Jamison or Gene King
244*0101 046-2144
•2,. W«*t Craven
Highlights
Craven County's
Family Weekly Newspaper
P.O. Box 487
Vanceboro, N.C. 28586
(Main St AcrossFrom Post Office)
Published Kach Thursday
Ashley B. Pulrell, Jr.
Publisher
Mike Voss
Editor
Terri Jamieson
Advertising Manager'"''^
And
StaffWriter
■dllh Hodges
Office Manager
Office Hours
Mon 8:30 am-10:30 am
Thurs. & Fri. 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Telepkene 2444)780 or 946.2144
IN-COUNTY RATES
Single Copy 25'
1 Year *7.35
2 Years *11.55
3 Years *15.75
OUT-OF-COUNTY RATES
1 Year 18.40
2 Years •12.6O
3 Years «16.80
Above Includes N.C. Tax.
Payable in advance. Subscribers
desiring their Highlights termi
nated at expiration should notify
us of this intenUon, otherwise we
will consider it their wish to conti
nue to receive the paper and they
will be charged for it.
U.S.P.S. 412-110
Second Class Postage Paid
Vanceboro, N.C.
Member: N.C. Press Association
’That spirit lives everyday in the hearts of those brave rescue
workers and firemen. Saving that spirit is almost as important
as saving life itself.
To the volunteers — a job well done. . ^ ,
teams would have to spend more time on the road and out of
the classroom if Pender County and White Oak replace
Washington and East Carteret. More travel means more
money spent. Loss of classroom time speaks for itself.
The re^ignment would also hurt rivalries. West Craven and
Washington are less than 30 miles apart. Athletes from both
teams know each other well and often see each other away
from athletic competition. The closeness of the two schools
makes for a good rivalry. ’The schools compete for geographic
al and media bragging rights in their area.
Throw in D.H. Conley High School just up the road in Pitt
County and both West Craven and Conley lose a good confer
ence rival if Washington is moved. ’The schools could play
each other in non-conference events, but it is not guaranteed.
Any way it’s looked at, a conference rivlary has more meaning.
A contest between the two schools could be the deciding
factor in conference standings ora championship. It is doubt
ful a non-conference rivalry could generate as much excite
ment.
And there have been several changes in West Craven’s con
ference affiliations in the recent past. Stability in a conference
allows tradition to build, programs to improve and allows
athletes to count on a constant instead of ever-changing list of
variables.
From the standpoint of money, academics and rivalry, we
hope the proposed realignment will be scrapped or worked
out so West Craven can build on rivalries with schools much
closer than White Oak or Pender County. As good as the prog
rams may be at those two schools, we think a game between
West Craven and a school from "just down the road” will mean
much more for the fans, players and to the box office.
’The rivalries in danger might not be off the Carolina-N.C.
State variety, but they are just as important. Let’s hope the
NCHSAA will make the right call on this play.