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VOLUME 11 NO. 48
DECEMBER 22. 1988
VANCEBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
PHONE 244 0780 OR 946-2144
(UPSP 412-110)
25 CENTS
SIX PAGES
Woman’s Club
Brightens Town
For Christmas
Adds Figures To Nativity Scene,
Decorates Town’s Christmas Tree
By TERRI JAMIESON
SlalT Writer
Evidence of the hard work this
past year by the Vanceboro
Junior Woman’s Club is evident
when walking or driving down
Main Street.
This year, as in the past, the
club welcomed in the holiday
season by decorating the tree
next to the town hall and setting
up the nativity scene. Additions
to the nativity scene this year in
clude a camel, donkey, two
sheep, a shepherd and an angel.
The additions were cut from
wood, then painted by Lori She-
pley. The decorations were put
up Dec. 2, followed by the light
ing of the Christmas tree. Money
for the additions was raised
through the club’s Strawberry
Festival activities and from pri
vate donations. The club plans to
continue upgrading the nativity
scene.
“We hope the community en
joys the nativity and we appreci
ate their support which makes
projects like this and others a
success,” said Connie Bryan, im
mediate past president of the
club.
Tbe club also recently installed
its officers for 1989. The installa
tion ceremony was held at
Cameron’s in Kinston.
’The new officers are President
Becky Hughes, Vice President
Kim Pillingame, Secretary Sher
ry Forrest, Treasurer Linda Whit-
ford, Parliamentarian Cheryl
Wilson, Chaplain Leslie Womack
and Reporter Debbie Oppin.
Members brought going-away
gifts for Carolyn Madures who
has served as advisor to the club
for six years. “We are really going
to miss Carolyn. Her contribu
tions to the club have been very
valuable,” said Ms. Bryan.
’The club presented Mrs. Ma
dures with a Noah’s Ark collec
tor’s set.
Birthday Bash In England Becomes A Tea Party
BiU and Dixie Wells bad plan
ned to be in England for three
years, where Wells u^as a Me thod-
ist minister in Saltburn and
Marske on the North Sea, but
sickness cut their stay to II
weeks. From their home in
Laurinburg, where Dixie is
quickly recovering. Bill plans to
write severai articles about their
experiences in England.
By BILL WELLS
It has been some time since 1
said in our my first article, writ
ten in August before we left for
England, that I would plan to
send reports to you every two
weeks.
Plans have changed. In the
new setting Dixie, my wife, be
came very homesick and de
pressed, so much so that we felt
she would not recover in less
than a year, and I could not serve
well while she was so sick. There
fore, we made hurried plans to
return to North Carolina.
We flew home in time to spend
a few days with our daughter,
Dixie, and to go with her to visit
the A1 Wells family for Thank
sgiving. In between, there was an
encouraging appointment with
my wife’s doctor. Her depression
seems to be gone.
We got to Durham and slept
through the terrible tornadoes in
nearby Raleigh. We arrived in
Laurinburg in time to go to the
Christmas parade the Monday af
ter Thanksgiving.
In England, we were wel
comed graciously and were bid
farewell with equal grace. There
were even tears shed. We felt
terrible over leaving, but were
convinced that it was necessary.
Some English friends had been
planning a birthday party for
Dixie. I had suggested that any
presents be limited to 50 pence in
cost. When I mentioned that idea
to Stephen Bunting, the retired
schoolmaster next door, it
ignited his imagination: ’’INvo
eggs,” “Three sticks of chewing
gum,” etc.
Only about a dozen were going
to come to the manse at Saltburn
for the party that night after our
confirmation classes at Marske.
However, when it was learned
that we would be leaving for
America without even one more
service at Saltburn, the birthday
party plans were changed. In
stead, in the lower fellowship
hall at Saltburn Church after the
evening service, tea would be
served — an opportunity to say
good-bye.
As Dixie and I came down the
entrance hall, some 40 voices
were heard singing a lovely birth
day song they had known since
childhood, having learned it in
Sunday school. It was not famil
iar to me, but I have asked choir
director Margaret Spencer to
make us a tape recording of that
lovely message in music.
The “cup of tea” Grace Coun
ter had promised for Sunday
night turned into a “faith tea,”
usually called a covered-dish
meal in North Carolina. It in
cluded birthday cake, the best
quiche I had ever eaten, and lots
of other goodies — both savory
and sweet. And tea, of course.
Also, earlier in the day, at Mars
ke Church following the regular
10:45 a.m. service, senior steward
Mary Wrighton had arranged for
tea and biscuits to be served.
Nearly everyone of the large con
gregation stayed for this. As the
vestry steward lead me in prayer
before I was to conduct the 6:15
p.m. worship service, I felt the
warmth of Christian fellowship
that stretches from one continent
to another; and silently 1 prayed
that we may be one in spirit al
ways.
The church always has un
finished business, and ours was
no exception. I want to tell you
about some of this in a later
article.
Letter To Santa
Dear Santa,
My name is Jennifer Renee
Dixon. I am three years old
and I live in Vanceboro on
Kite Town Road. I am some
times good, but mostly bad.
What I would like Santa Claus
to bring me for Christmas: a
Fisher-Price kitchen set,
clothes, Pee Wee Herman
chairry. Sesame Street
alphabet roadway, cartoon
videos, doll, doll furniture, tv,
bike, bear, wicker chair,
wagon. See and Say and a
moo-moo cow.
I will leave you a Coke or
Pepsi and some cookies.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Dixon
P.S. My address is Route 1,
Box 292, Vanceboro, N.C.
28586. So don’t forget to stop
by.
Wheelchair Does Not
Slow School’s Volunteer
By TERRI JAMIESON
Stair Writer
She goes anywhere she wants
and does not let a wheelchair
stop her.
Patsy Wiggins volunteers
some of her time at West Craven
High School’s library. She has
been doing volunteer work there
for about a month.
"Working in the library has
helped me a lot. I’ve learned a
great deal fiom the kids,” said
Ms. Wiggins. In a soft, yet firm.
voice, Ms. Wiggins explained
that she can do most anything
ftom her wheelchair. Part of her
volunteer work in the library in
cludes filing and taking fines for
overdue library books.
“I epjoy my work in the library
and am willing to do anything (to
help),” she said.
Ann Watson, the librarian, said
that Ms. Wiggins is the first adult
to work in the library on a consis-
(See WIGGINS, Page 2)
After 28 Years On Job,
Mitchell Calls It Quits
By TERRI JAMIESON
Staff Writer
’Tying up the ferry after the last
car had gone over Streets Ferry
Creek in 1962 was just one of the
memories William Mitchell recal
led recently while talking about
his 28 years with the N.C. Depart
ment of ’Transportation.
Mitchell retires this month af
ter spending his career in the
Vanceboro and New Bern areas.
Many of those years were spent
operating a section grader and
doing road construction.
Mitchell was raised in the Van
ceboro area. He and his wife,
Reba, have two children, William
and Phyllis. Mitchell plans after
retiring include working in the
garden, hunting, fishing and
even housekeeping. Mitchell has
family scattered over Havelock,
New Bern and Pamlico County
and plans to stay busy visiting
family members.
“I’ve had a good backup all
these years,” he said, looking at
(See MITCHELL, Page 2)
Women’s Fellowship
Installs New Officers
The Christian Women’s Fel
lowship of the VanceboroChrist-
ian Church met recently in the
fellowship hall of the church and
installed officers.
New officers for the coming
year were installed by Rev. Dan
Hall, pastor. He opened the in
stallation with prayer and talked
about the purpose of the Christ
ian Women’s Fellowship. Instal
led were President Nell Hill, Vice
President Carolyn Russell,
Secretary Etheleene Butler,
Treasurer Ida Pearl Buck, Gail
Midgette, worship chairman;
Thalia Broadway, program
chairman; Debbie Wayne and
Susan Cling, service chairmen;
Marie Midgett, card chairman;
Erma Moore, Hazel Hoff, Sara
Alice Wetherington and Doris
White, food committee.
Each person brought a gift and
refreshments for the annual
Christmas meeting. Nell Hill,
(See CHURCH, Page 5)
Auxiliary Of Rescue Squad
Installs Officers For New Year
Lesson Number One
’The first thing to learn in wrestling is not to get “pinned” down
worrying with such minor matters as another wrestler trying tie you
up like a pretzel and then pinning you for the win. West Craven
wrestling coach Clay Jordan explains a move to one of the Eagle
wrestler at recent practice. While still an inexperienced squad, a
couple of wrestlers are having a good season. Jason Allen, the lone
senior, so far this season is undefeated. (Mike Voss photo)
’The Vanceboro Rescue Squad
Auxiliary installed officers for
the coming year recently.
The officers are Marie Midget
te, president; Net Dixon, vice
president; Mary Fillingame,
secretary and Carol Gaskins,
treasurer.
The auxiliary members were
aiso the special guests of the
combined Vanceboro Volunteer
Fire Department and Rescue
Squad Christmas party. ’The par
ty was held at the U.S. 70 East
Fish Camp. Following the sea
food supper, the auxiliary mem
bers were recognized. Out-going
President Freida Barrow pre
sented a 62,000 check to the res
cue squad to be used for buying
new equipment.
Following the auxiliary’s regu
lar meeting at Mrs. Barrow’s
home, the members exchanged
gifts and ate refreshments.
The auxiliary meets the first
Tuesday of each month at 7:30
p.m. Anyone over the age of 18
and interested in promoting the
welfare of the rescue squad
(See AUXILIARY, Page 5)