THE WEST CRAVEN
Volume 2 No. 40
HIGHLIGHT
Vanceboro, n.C. - Thursda>
>ber 11. 1979 16 pages
Price: 2(
The Excitement of
Fireman's Day-1979
Connie Bryan
Once again last Satur
day Vanceboro and area
residents gathered on
Main Street to wait and
watch for the 20th Annual
Fireman’s Day Parade.
This year’s parade
promised to be the best
ever with even more
entries. There were
rumors everywhere of
what was to come. Even the
weather was cooperating
with the air cool and crisp
and the sky clear and blue.
Obviously someone had
asked the weatherman to
please “don’t rain on my
parade.”
And this is indeedour
parade. We may enjoy
watching the more famous
parades on television and
certainly the Macy’s
Christmas Parade or the
Rose Parade are spectacu
lar, but how many people
do we know on those floats
or riding those horses.
Those parades are fun to
watch, but they do not hold
the excitement of the
Fireman’s Day Parade.
This excitement is felt by
young and old alike as they
strain to be the first to see
the Boy Scout color guard
which signals that the
parade has begun. “Here it
comes!” can be heard up
PARADE — The 1979 Fireman’s Day Boy Scout
Parade was the biggest and best ever. the Parade.
and down the street. The
excitement mounts as the
Vanceboro fire trucks
along with other area
departments pass by all
shined and polished. Then
come cars carrying local
dignitaries and contest
winners, such as Miss
DECA or Grifton’s
“Sweetheart.” The Junior
Woman’s Club float
reminds everyone that “It
Shouldn’t Hurt to be a
Child.” Unfortunately, the
trailer carrying the
display of MorrisConstruc-
tion Co. broke down before
it got downtown. The West
Craven Band followed with
its short program of music
and drilling. A highlight of
Troop 58 leads off
CLOWN — Sharon Bland, dressed in a clown’s outfit
and sponsored by the Junior Woman’s Club, was the
hit of the day with all the kids. Sharon is shown here
riding on her motorcycle during the parade.
GIRL SCOUTS — Girl Scout Troop 482 also
participated in the parade. They are (left to right)
Mrs. Mattie Drake, Nelcer Drake (with Girl Scout
Flag), Mary Ann Baker (with U S. Flag), Martha
Townsend, Debbie Hodges, Maria Beaman, and
Kelly Jo Griffin.
the parade for many was
the JWC clown, Sharon
Bland on her motorcycle.
Later at the fire house,
everyone gathered for a
meal of barbecued pork
chicken and to listen to
gospel music by the
Chapelettes and David and
the Singspirations. Terry
Morris was presented with
a plaque for the 1979
Outstanding Fireman.
This was the first year of
this award. Alsu new this
year was a prize of $50 for
the best float, which went
to the Junior Woman’s
Club, and $100 for the best
band, which went to West
Craven.
After lunch the fireman
organized games including
races, egg throws, tug of
wars, and the notorious
greasy pole climb.
As the day winds down
and the last barbecue plate
is sold, people return to
MORRIS AWARDED-
Terry Morris was named
the Outstanding Fire
man of 1979. Terry
recieved his award on
Fireman’s Day last
Saturday.
their homes renewed for
another year and filled
with the spirit of commu
nity togetherness that
makes Fireman’s Day so
spocifll
For more Fireman's Day Fun-Page 2
Full Day of activities
’ownship 9
'ireman's Day
A Checker tournament.
Horseshoe Tournament,
Yard Sale, and the annual
barbecue dinner sales
highlight this year’s
Township 9 Fireman’s Day
according to Roger
Wetherington, Training
Officer for Township 9
Fire Department.
The weekend event
begins Friday night at 7:30
p.m. continuing on
^|^irday morning begin
ning at 9:00 a.m. The Yard
Sale also begins at 9:00
a.m. and continues until
7:00 p.m. Saturday
evening. Beginning at
11:00 a.m. and continuing
until 7:00 p.m., the firemen
and Ladies’ Auxiliary will
serve barbecue dinners.
The Horse Shoe Throwing
Tournament begins at
1:00 p.m. All events take
place at the Jasper
Elementary School.
Grand
GRAND OPENING — (left to right) Jimmie Morris,
Artie Rawls, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Wilson, Meredith
Lancaster, David Lancaster, Jerri Jo Lancaster, and
Grace Elks participate in ribbon cutting ceremonies
at the Grand Opening of the Vanceboro Car Wash.
By Connie Bryan
The new Vanceboro v..dr
Wash had its Grand
Opening last Saturday
amid all the excitement of
Fireman’s Day. David
Lancaster, his wife, Jerri
Jo, and daughter, Mere
dith, were on hand to greet
family and friends as they
gathered to wish him much
succe.ss with the car wash.
David’s aunt, Mrs. Grace
Elks, original owner of the
lot, cut one of the four
ribbons across each bay.
Vanceboro Jimmie Morris
Opening
followed saying that the
town was proud to welcome
David to the business
community and commend
ed him on providing the
long needed car wash.
Mayor Morris was joined
by Artie Rawls, from
Wimco Construction of
Washington.
Following the ribbon
cutting ceremonies, guests
enjoyed refreshments of
soft drinks and cookies,
while the lucky first twelve
customers got a free car
wash.
Football Contest —Page 8