THE WEST CRAVEN t Volume 2 No. 35 HIGHLIGHT Vanceboro, N.C. - Thursdav. SeDtember 6. 1979 .12 Paoes 48th Whitford reunion Price: 2( Family and friends gathered for the 48th Whitford Family Reunion this past weekend. They met at the WOW Hall in Ernul on Sunday, Septem ber 2. After the invocation by Rev. Owen Arthur, Jr. the approximately 300 guests enjoyed a bountiful spread of a wide variety of food, which each family brought. Lee Griffin of New Bern, the outgoing president, presided over the.nieeting. Laurie Whitford of Vanceboro was elected as this year’s president. Thelma Whitford of Ernul is the secretary, and Vera Whitford of Bridgeton is the historian. The oldest Whitford man present was Arthur Whitford, while George Ipock was the oldest man present. Katie Whitford, 90, was both the oldest Whitford woman and the oldest woman present. The youngest boy was three year-old Jason Grant Whitford, while the youngest girl was Wendy Lorraine Running, who was just 8 days old. It was announced that Katie Whitford, Violet Whitford, and Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Wendy Hunninc COMMUNITY CONCERT SALES UNDERWAY-The Texas Boys’ Choir, under the direction of Jack Nobie White, is one of four concerts beingr sponsored this year by the Craven County Community Concert Association. Membership is avaiiable until Saturday by contacting the Highlights or Virginia Cleve at 244- 0268. For more information, see related story on Page 2. Arthur Whitford had attended all 48 of the reunions. Of the ten family groups present, the Dave P. and Susan Cox branch of the family had 50 members present, which was the most of any of the groups. A report was given on the births, deaths, and marriages within the family during the past year. The table committee was Lester GasiHtins, Lee Griffin, Ed Brinson, and Vernon Ray Whitfford. They were thanked for setting the tables up. The Whitford family and their friends always meet for their reunion on the Sunday before Labor Day, which next year falls on August 31. Winner Announced Clay Jordan, Head Football Coach at West Craven High School, demonstrated his know ledge of pro football talent by winning the first week of the 1979IIIGHLIGHTS Football Contest. Jordan pickod; twelve eorreet winners to finish all idone in^f^f .plnne; He wins ten"' doUhitrir ^d six bonus ia^toWlnd tbex^p for 'd to ibisn^ WoHd in ?ii^do Eloridtk; The trip . indlodes two nights lod^hfF. plus fifty dollars expenio moni^. Going into GOSPEL SING— The Promised Land Singers froha Jacksonville entertained spectators at a gospel sing held recently at the Masonic Lodge. The Gospel Sing was sponsored the Governing Board of the Vanceboror Youth Center. (Photo by Rick Cannon.) Gospel Sing A Gospel Sing was held on August 18 beside the Masonic Lodge near Vanceboro to kick off the new Youth Center. Between 80 and 100 people enjoyed the afternoon of inspiring gospel music from five area groups. These groups were The Chapeletes from Cho- cowinity. The Traveling Stars from Ft. Barnwell, The Christianaires and Rev. Robert Worthington from Vanceboro, The Golden Notes from New Bern, and The Promised Land Singers from Jacksonville. Watch for other events this fall to be sponsored by the Vanceboro Area Youth Project. Monday night’s game there was a three-way tie for second. Pittsburgh won the same scoring 16 points. Leaving Peggy Hickle and Nefd Russell tied for eecbni, since each had piwdictfd Pittsburgh to win gnd score 27 points. The ^ize money add ptoiiits for second and third places was divided between the two. Each picked eleven correct winners. The editor posted a respectable 9^6 record but was surpassed by twenty^ one entries. Earl Wright was the lucky winner of the "Beat the Editor* tlrawing for a $6 cash prize. Extended Area Telephone Service Vote Coming Soon In October, telephone subscribers in New Bern, Vanceboro, and Havelock will be asked to vote by mail on whether or not they wish to have extended By Phil Bowie (reprinted from Shopper) area service (EAS) linking their communities. Under the proposed EAS system no numbers would change but all calls within the area would become local rather than long distance. This would mean a substantial reduc tion in phone bills for many businesses and for the Craven County government, which spends more than *3,6(X) each year on local calls that are now billed at long distance rates. Because the basic phone rates are now based on the average number of local calls, the basic monthly rates would increase to a maximum of ‘7.80 for New Bern, ‘8 for Vanceboro, and *7.85 for Havelock. Those hew rates would represent a monthly increase of *1.15 for New Bern subscribers, *3.30 for Vanceboro, and *2.10 for Havelock. However, any subscriber who now makes more than two or three calls each month within the designated area and is be ing billed for long distance would see a net reduction in his phone bill. In addi tion, important facilities such as the hospital and the sheriff’s department dould be easily reached by simple local calls. The idea originated with the Agribusiness Commit tee of the Chamber of Commerce, and has won the approval of area businesses and civic groups. Carolina Telephone will be conduc ting the poll at the request of the state utilities com mission. Ballots will be mailed to every subscriber, and they must be retured within 15 days thereafter in order to be valid. For more informa tion on EAS, you can call Gary Bleau at 638-1193.