THE WEST CRAVEN
HIGHLIGHT
a
Volume 2, No. 51
Vanceboro, N. C. - Thursday December 27; 1979 8 Pages
20 Cents
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Review of 1979
Moving toward
the 80’s
By Connie Bryan
Vanceboro and western
Craven County were on the
move during 1979. The
new developments and
progress certainly show
that the 1980’s hold great
promise. As we pause a
moment at the beginning
of this new year and new
decade, let’s reflex back
over the events of 1979 and
relive our triumphs. Praise
ourselves on our accom
plishments, while at the-
same time we brace our
selves for the new
challenges of the 80’s.
One of the biggest
developments of the year
came in the first week
when Joe Thomas of
Vanceboro was selected to
fill the State Senate seat
vacated by the late D. L.
Stallings. Thomas, who
lives near Vanceboro with
his wife, Linda and four
children, was a 1959
graduate of Farm Life and
Vanceboro’s mayor at one
time. He has been an active
supporter of this area and a
tireless advocate of a better
way of life for all who live
here.
JANUARY— New State Senator Joe Thomas with his
wife, Linda, and children, Scott, Allen, Brynn, and
Emma.
Other major develop
ment of 1979 was the plan
for merger of the Craven
County Schools and the
New Bern City Schools.
The issue of merger was
not new, but at last it
became a reality. After
several meetings, includ
ing a marathon meeting on
January 23, when the
boards finally reached an
agreement which seemed
fair to both sides. This plan
calls for the establishment
of one administrative unit
of the two systems,
effective with the first
Monday of December 1980.
Another educational
issue was resolved as soon
in 1979 as the merger was.
Plans for the new
elementary school for
Vanceboro were drawn up
and adopted by the board
at the meeting in October,
after being discussed at
almost every meeting
before that. But it seems to
be certain that Vanceboro
will have a modern school
to replace the 65 year old
structure now in use.
A near tragedy was
averted in February, when
a huge chemical fire at a
Greenville plant caused the
evacuation of many
I Anderson chosen
to fill vacant seat
|y Rick Cannon
Gerald Anderson of
Bridgeton received 264
Gerald L. Anderson of
Bridgeton was named last
Friday to fill the vacate
seat of the late Joseph
Bright. Anderson, a life
long resident of Craven
County is presently serving
on the Craven County
Board of Commissioners
and is a prominent
businessman in Craven
County. He received 264 of
the 458 votes cast. Ruben
Davis of Lenoir County
received the remaining 184
votes.
Anderson remarked
after the announcement by
selection committee
chairman Jimmie L.
Morris of Vanceboro that
he was very pleased with
the appointment. In respon
the appointment. In
response to comments that
the person being chosen for
the seat would have an
advantage in the upcoming
May Democratic Primary,
Anderson said that he
couldn’t see where it would
help any. “My record
stands for itself,” he added,
“I have proven myself
as a County Commissioner”
S
s
X
PARK GRANT— Daphne Cleve,
Parks and Recreation Commissioner
of Vanceboro accepts a check for
$2,000 from Keith Lamb, Regional
Vice-President of Weyerhaeuser.
families along Hwy 43 and
17. Fire, rescue, and
medical teams stayed on
alert throughout the day,
but no major problems
occurred and the evacuees
returned to their homes
late in the afternoon.
Vanceboro also got a
youth center during the
year. Members of the
Vanceboro Area Minis
terial Fellowship and
concerned citizens got to
gether and organized a
Youth Center Govening
Board, with Rev. Steve
Hickle as the chairman.
The Board along with the
Youth Council worked
hard during the year to
make this dream a reality.
A contest later in the year
named the center the
Vanceboro Fun House,
which is open each
Saturday night for area
teens.
Looking on is Jimmie Morris, Vance
boro Mayor and Barbara Toney,
Regional Analyst. The grant will go to
ward a Town Park for Vanceboro.
(Photo by Rick Cannon)
7
I
MAY 11— A record crowd enjoyed the zany antics at
the 1979 Farm Life Alumni.
Bike-A-Thon, the Youth
Rally sponsored by the
MYF of the Vanceboro
UMC, Wachovia Bank and
Trust, Co., celebrated its
100th aniversary and the
Vanceboro branch employ-
MAY— West’s Craven’s Band wound up a very busy
and successful year.
Some of the other
happenings include the
spring and fall festivals in
Vanceboro schools and the
Spring Festival in Bridge-
ton, the Cystic Fibrosis
ees came to work dressed in
period dresses, Chief of
Police Harley Ringer
resigned his position and
took a similiar post in
Bridgeton.
Of course the highlight
for many this year was the
Farm Life Alumni Associ
ation meeting in May. A
record 227 people gathered
in the cafeteria to stroll
down memory lane and to
sing “a song of our dear
Farm Life School.”
Everyone enjoyed the
delightful program plan
ned by Etheleen Butler
and Brenda Ipock, this
year’s program chair
persons. As once again,
Farm Life was “the scene
of happy days.”
As usual the summer
was full of weddings and
hard work in tobacco, but
that work was interupted
on many area farms after a
wind and hail storm hit
Vanceboro on the Fourth of
July. The storm left in its
wake shredded tobacco
leaves with many of the
fields as much as 95%
destoryed. Insurance firms
paid out over a $1 million to
policy holders. Other crops
were also damaged as well
as buildings and at least
one home that of Mr. and
More Memories of 1979 on Page 8