West Craven
HIGHLIGHT'^ -
frying Askin, Bridgeton. Caton, Cove City. Dover, Epworth. Ernul, Ft. Barnwell. Jasper. New Bern. Piney Neck. Tusearora, Vanceboro, Wllm'iir & Fafi-field^^SK*"**'”"
Volume 6, Number 26, Vanceboro, North Carolina, Thursday, June 28,1988
Phone 244-0780
12 Pages 20 Cents
Memorials Presented
L-R Norman Johnson, Weyerhaeuser; Jim Nay,
Texaco; Tony Hooper, New Bern City Mgr.; Mayor
Paul Cox, New Bern; J. Harold Talton, Swiss Bear
President, Board of Directors.
Major Downtown
Project Revealed
New Bern-A downtown tourism development
project involving two industrial corporations was
unveiled last Wednesday by J. Harold Talton,
Chairman of Swiss Bear, Inc.
Texaco, Inc. and Weyerhaeuser Company
announced proposals which would contribute
substantially to tourism development in New
Bern and Craven County.
Texaco, Inc. donated property located on the
Neuse River to the City of New Bern and Swiss
Bear, Inc. “We knew Texaco wanted to be part of
the facility which would provide information and
be a major resource to the community,” says
Talton. “They donated this property to further
this effort,”
Norman E. Johnson, Regional Vice President
of the Weyerhaeuser Company, announced its
support for the concept of a visitor and river
center to be located on this waterfront property.
“We recognize water resources as our most
important asset in coastal North Carolina.
Weyerhaeuser desires to be a part of this project
which contributes to the understanding of our
river systems,” Johnson says.
The waterfront property is located
prominently on U.S. 70 beside Union Point, a city
park. It contains 2.4 acres where bulk storage
tanks and an abandoned service station are now
located, both of which will later be removed.
“This area is a focal point for visitors coming
into New Bern” says Marvin W. Davis, Executive
^Director of Swiss Bear, Inc. “Downtown
^P^aterfront development gives a special flavor to
New Bern”.
Swiss Bear, Inc. will form w;orking groups to
explore how the facility can best be developed
and solicit funds to construct the facility.
“This center will draw tourists to New Bern
and Craven County giving them exciting things
to do when they arrive,” Mayor Paul Cox said.
“The more sites tourists have to visit the longer
they will stay here and contribute to our
economy,” he says.
This announcement is the most recent in a
continuing series of projects in downtown New
Bern. Two million dollars of low interest funds
are now available for downtown renovation. The
recent celebration and parade honoring Pepsi’s
Continued on page 9
L«ft to right: Janis Cannon, Rev. Hill, Lela Barrow, Ralph Tucker, Donald Witherington.
In a short service at the Chapman’s United
Methodist Church near Vanceboro a dedication
was made by descendants of the Chapman
Family.
A memorial book of family member names was
presented by Ralph Tucker in memory of his
mother, Carrie Chapman Tucker, and a plaque in
memory of the Furniford Chapman family;
Polly, Sallie T., Jesse, Everilda, David Simeon,
and David; buried in the old cemetery nearby
was placed in the vestibule. Those participating
in the service were Lela Barrow, Ralph Tucker,
Donald Witherington, and Janis W. Cannon, all
descendants of the Chapman Family.
Mrs. Barrow told of her recollections about the
church 90 years ago; Mr. Witherington told about
attending the church as a boy, he was reared in
the community; he alsostated their reason for the
presentations were “we are proud of our
heritage”, Mrs. Cannon read from her
grandmother, Jennie Roach Witherington’s
diary which told of who preached and some of the
church activities of 90 years ago.
5
Preparation for the service has been in
planning for several months. There were
cleaning up the cemetery, buying the plaque, and
getting the family book.
The old Chapman Cemetery now on the Heber
Cox Farm, formerly Chapman land, was cleaned
up by Mr. Heber Cox and Mr. Hubert Cox. Billy
Ray Coward cut and hauled out the large trees.
Mrs. Ruby Miller was instrumental in getting
the plaque and having the names placed on it.
Mrs. Kathleen Carawon has worked with taking
pictures, helping pay for cleaning of cemetery,
and cleaning the tombstones. Mr. Ralph Tucker
was in charge of getting the family book.
Vanceboro Youth Club Fund
By R.L. CANNON, JR.
In order to give our youth in the area a place to
go for recreation, parties, and movies funds are
needed to keep the Youth Center operating. The
Lancaster Lumber Company Building on Farm
Life Ave. is being used for the Youth Center. This
is a non-profit organization with Mrs. Opal
LeFever in charge of the activities. Mr. Tony
Moye is Youth Center Assistant.
An effort to get interested citizens to donate
one dollar a month for this worthy project is
•underway. If you are interested in being a
supporter of the Vanceboro Youth Center, send
your check for $12 made out to Vanceboro Youth
Center c/o Highlights, P.O. Box 404, Vanceboro
or to Mrs. Opal LeFever Rt. 1, Box 210, Ernul,
N.C.
We will list those who contribute $12 or more
during the month of July in the Highlights. Plans
are underway to recognize contributors with a
card and a “Vanceboro Youth Center” bumper
sticker.
Those who have contributed $12 or more to
date are: Joe Thomas, Martha Ballenger, Jimmy
McLawhorn, Robert Baysden, Janice Jordan,
Linda Lee, Blanche Pollard, Elsie Whitford,
Jimmy Morris, Milton Wiley, Bobby Adams,
’ Continued on page 9