THE WEST CRAVEN
H1GHUSHT
Volume 2 No. 32 Vanceboro, N.c.-Thursday.Auoust 16.1979 12 f^aqes Mce:M
Edna Anderson
overcomes handicap
>4r
Edna Williams Ander
son, wife of Bill Anderson
of Rt. 2 Vanceboro, was
born in 1945. At six weeks
of age,doctors discovered
that she had been born
without hip sockets.
Because of this, she had no
control over her legs. Two
years later, Edna’s sister,
Brenda, was born with the
same condition.
The girls were two of five
children born to the late
Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Williams of the Wilmar
Community. Mr. Williams
died in 1950 leaving the
care of the five children to
his wife. Ora Mae.
The Beaufort County
Shrine Club soon learned
of the family’s situation. In
the customary manner of
that distinguished group,
they immediately took
action to insure the best
possible care for th^ two
girls and their family.
Within days the girls were
admitted to the Shriner’s
Hospital for Crippled
Mrs. Edna
Children in Greenville,
South Carolina.
The highly skilled staff
went to work at once.
Orthopedic specialists
decided to try and fuse the
hip and leg bones together
so that the legs could be
controlled. In Edna’s case
this took nine operations.
Anderson
Surgeons placed a steel rod
and pins through her hip
bones. All of the hospital
expenses and doctor’s bills
were paid by the Shriner’s.
Edna took her IwsMep''
on her sixth birthday.
Many years of struggle and
pain followed. However,
her efforts have paid off.
With the add of crutches,
she can now walk. In 1969
and 1970, Edna attended a
beautician school and
earned her license to
practice. In 1970 she
married Bill Anderson and
a year later gave birth to a
beautiful, baby daughter,
Billie Jo, who will start in
the third grade at Farm
Life this fall.
Edna does not let her
handicap interfere with
her life style. She does her
own housework and tends
her garden each summer.
She has her driver’s license
and does just about
anything that she wants to
do. Edna is very thankful
to the Shriners for their
help and financial support,
which made it possible for
her to led a normal life. Her
case proves once again
.».what the Shriners have
always believed, “Man
never stands so straight, as
when he stoops to help a
crippled child.’’
JWC winds up
successful
year
#
By Connie Bryan
The Vanceboro Junior
Woman’s Club held its
August meeting last
Monday night at the home
of Mrs. Peggie Mills. The
program for the evening,
which was sponsored by
the Conservation and
Home Life Departments,
as on conserving energy
hrough the use of small
appliances. Susan Nobles,
Craven County Home
Extension Agent, present
ed the most informative
program. During the
business session, the
following slate of officers
were elected: Sharon
Bland, president; Terri
Beaman, vice-president:
Sandra McCandless,
secretary: Paula Jordan,
treasurer: Peggie Mills,
chaplain: and Connie
Bryan, parliamentarian.
Reports on the year’s
ctivities were given by
ach of the retiring
department heads. High
lights of this year’s projects
included the Charter
Cermony, the Spring
Fashion Show, the Yard
Beautification Contest,
and the Volunteers in the
School reception.
In other action, members
voted by secret ballot for
the Junior Clubwoman of
the Year Award. This
award will be presented at
the Club’s Installation and
Induction ceremony on
August 25, at 8:00 p.m. in
the back yard of Mrs. Sallie
Morris. It was decided that
the public would be
invited.
Plans were also made for
an Outdoor Fashion show
featuring fall fashions
from Cora’s Four Seasons.
The fashion show is
scheduled for September
22, and will be held in the
side yard of Mrs. Ann
Lancaster. It was also
decided that a $100.
scholarship will be
presented to a West Craven
Senior during the Fashion
Show.
A Holiday House with
Christmas gifts and
decorations will be
sponsored by the club. It is
scheduled for the first
week in December. More
details will be announced
at a later date.
NEW PRESIDENT- Sharon Bland (right) is the
newly elected president of the Vanceboro Junior
Woman’s Club. She is shown here with Mrs. Ann
Lancaster, club advisor, during the last spring’s
Fashion Show. (Highlights file photo)
Inside Today
• Fort Barnwell News, Page 6.
• Ernul News, Page 7.
• Bird’s Eye View of New Bern, Page 11.
• Jasper News, Page 12.
News and Advertising
Call: 244-0780
Board rejects
housing plan
By Connie Bryan
At their meeting on
August 9, the Vanceboro
Board of Aldermen turned
down a proposal from East
Carolina Regional Housing
Authority to build 50
housing units for low rent
public housing. Mr. James
Dudley, who represented
the Housing Authority,
stipulated that the town
would have to provide
water and sewer lines, as
well as police protection
and garbage collection.
After reviewing and
discussing the resolution
agreement, the following
motion was submitted by
Alderman Alton Whitley,
‘That the Town of
Vanceboro does not, at this
time, have the necessary
funds to take on a project of
this size. Also, tax revenues
’rom said project would not
compensate for garbage
collection and police
protection that would be
required, therefore the
board will not adopt said
agreement.’’ The motion
was unanimously ap
proved by the board.
Commenting on the
decision. Mayor Jimmie
Morris stated, “It is
generally agreed that more
housing is needed in
Vanceboro, but the board
would like to get the full
amount of taxes out of it.’’
He explained that with the
suggested housing a
limited amount of tax
revenue would be returned
to the town, but with a
private concern there
could be $10,000-$12,000 in
revenue. He added that a
private concern might
provide better manage
ment, since they had a
personal interest in the
project. According to
Morris, the board will
consider bids from private
concerns before making a
final decision.
Cheryl Jordan
Carolyn Whitford
T#o local students attend
special ECU classes
Cheryl Jordan, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Royce
Jordan of Vanceboro, and
Carolyn Whitford, daugh
ter of Mrs. Elizabeth
Whitford of Ernul, were
among fourteen North
Carolina high school
students that participated
in a special pre-college
program at East Carolina
University from June 27-
August 2. They were
allowed to take up two
courses for which they
received regular college
credits.
To qualify for this
special program, the
students must have SAT or
PS AT .scores of 900 or more
and be in the top 15% of
their class. They are
invited on the basis of
recommendations by their
high school counselors and
principals.
This program, which is
in its second year, is
designed to offer rising
high school seniors an
academic challenge while
simultaneously providing
a true college living
experience. Participants
resided on campus and
took part in all university
activities. They were
permitted to chose from a
variety of academic
disciplines. Cheryl took
math and psychology,
while Carolyn signed up
for math and history.