Welcome to mcdowellnews.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search, Section Navigation, Content.

mcdowellnews.com - The McDowell News

HomeNewsEntertainmentSportsLifestylesOpinionCommunityWeather Online Tools Jobs | Real Estate | Shopping | Classified

Community Briefs

From staff reports

Published: November 14, 2008

Little Buck Creek Road will be closed beginning through Saturday for a scheduled maintenance project. Please use extreme caution and watch for workers while this work is being completed. For more information, contact the Grandfather Ranger District at (828) 652-2144.

The McDowell County Health Department offers flu vaccines on Thursdays and Fridays for all adults ages 18 and older between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Cost is $30 or free for Medicare and Medicaid recipients.

The Dysartsville Community Club will meet tonight at 6:30 p.m. A potluck supper will be served. Everyone is welcome.

Marion Christian Academy will take orders for oranges through today for delivery on Dec. 4. Cost is $20 for a 20-pound box or $30 for a 40-pound box. To order, call 652-2033.

The annual Blue Ridge Artisan Show and sale, sponsored by McDowell Arts Council, is now taking applications from artists and crafters who wish to sell their creations during Dec. 4-23. There is a small entry fee and low commission taken to benefit MACA. Application deadline is Saturday. Call MACA at 652-8610 for details.

The fifth annual Family Services benefit run will be held Saturday. All cars, trucks and motorcycles are welcome and those interested in participating need to meet in the parking lot of Wal-Mart at 10 a.m. The run will end at the old House Theatre, where a concert performance will be held featuring country singer Juleigh Ed, along with a free lunch to participants. Those not interested in joining the ride but attending the concert may be admitted for a donation of $10. For more information, call Van Taylor at 442-9232.

McDowell Saddle and Bridle Club will hold an open show Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. on the showgrounds, located on N.C. 226 South. Admission is free, and there will be concessions available and a tack sale.

Marion Moose Family Center will hold a turkey shoot every Saturday in November beginning at 10 a.m. The shoot is open to the public and proceeds will go toward the upcoming Christmas project.

Blood drives will be held at the following locations for the month of November: Nebo Elementary on Tuesday from 2 to 6:30 p.m. Call 652-4737 for an appointment; Wal-Mart on Friday, Nov. 28 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 1 to 5:30 p.m. Call (828) 231-3211 for an appointment.

The McDowell Mental Health Association will sponsor a community information meeting on Tuesday at the St. John's Episcopal Church Parish Hall at 7 p.m. Richard Hill, western regional specialist of the N.C. Mental Health Association, and James Hamilton of the Smoky Mountain LME will speak on mental health issues in North Carolina.

God's Country Outreach will hold training and orientation for its upcoming medical clinic on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The training meeting for all volunteers who want to participate in the free clinic will be held at God's Country building, located at 3100 N.C. 226 South.

The JobLink Career Center will hold ABE/GED orientation on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., and Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 9 a.m. To register, call 659-6001, ext. 105.

The McDowell Honeybees Chapter of the N.C. State Beekeepers Association will meet Thursday in the Extension Conference Room of the County Administration Building. For more information, call 652-8104.

McDowell Trails Association will hold Share the Dream Fitness Challenge 10K and 5K runs on Saturday, Nov. 22 at Point Lookout Trail in Old Fort. Participants can preregister or register on the day of the event at 7:30 a.m. The run begins at 9 a.m. For more information or to preregister, call Stacey Burch at 442-0400.

The McDowell High Class of 1999 is planning a 10-year reunion. If you are a graduate and plan on attending, e-mail mcdowellreunion99@gmail.com

The Marion Christmas parade will be held Sunday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. on Main Street. This year's theme will be "A Child-like Christmas." All entries are required to preregister and obtain a copy of parade guidelines by calling Bobbie Young at 652-2215.

The Dysartsville Fire Department is now taking orders for their Thanksgiving Day Boston butt roast sale. Roasts are $20 and can be ordered by calling 659-3692.

Healing Hearts Small Animal Rescue and the Mercy Fund will hold a raffle, bake sale and pet adoption day at the Old Fort Depot on Saturday, Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dog trainer Jason Nations, owner of Who's Training Who, will be on hand to answer your dog-training questions.

Register now for the 2008 Marion Christmas parade, scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. The theme for the parade is "A Child-like Christmas." All entries are required to pre-register and obtain a copy of the parade guidelines. All entries must be full decorated. For more information and guidelines, call Bobbie Young at 652-2215. The city of Marion is the official sponsor.

Hospice of McDowell County will hold its annual memorial service "A Celebration of Reflection and Remembrance," on Thursday, Nov. 20 at First United Methodist Church. The service, held to honor and remember deceased Hospice patients, will begin at 7 p.m. For more information, call 652-1318.

Foothills Community Theatre is now accepting reservations for "Once Upon a Mattress." The show will be held Nov. 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. nightly, and Nov. 23 at 2:30 p.m., in the auditorium of East Junior High. Cost is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $8 for children. For tickets, call 659-PLAY (7529).

A benefit yard sale and bake sale will be held Saturday, Nov. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the National Guard Armory. The benefit will be for 25-year-old Justin Hall, who is paralyzed from the waist down, with proceeds going toward a lift van. Donations are also currently being accepted. For more information, call 652-6479 or 659-9803.

The Transfer Station and N.C. 226 South Convenience Center will be closed Thursday, Nov. 27 for Thanksgiving. Both will reopen Friday, Nov. 28. The Animal Shelter, and all other convenience centers will also be closed for Thanksgiving and will reopen Saturday, Nov. 29.

MACA will present the 21st annual Appalachian Potters Market on Saturday, Dec. 6 in the McDowell High gym. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature handcrafted clay work only. Cost is $4 and children under the age of 16 get in free. For more information, call 652-8610.

McDowell Memorial Park will have a luminary memorial service on Saturday, Dec. 6. Candles to be placed on a loved one's grave, can be purchased at the Memorial Park office. Proceeds will go toward Relay For Life. For more information, call 652-3323. In the event of rain, the service will be rescheduled for Dec. 13.

Helping Hands Thrift Store needs donations of resale items. Clothing, furniture, house wares or any other goods are greatly appreciated. All proceeds go to benefit Hospice. Drop offs may be made during regular store hours; every day but Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 659-1474.

McDowell County Head Start's Sugar Hill Center has slots available for children ages 3-5. Cost is $90 per week. Child vouchers are accepted. For more information, call 652-3229 or visit the office at 2111 Sugar Hill Road.

McDowell County 4-H Shooting Sports Club is forming teams to begin practice for the upcoming state tournament. Those interested in joining are asked to contact Chad Ray at 652-8104.

Anyone interested in joining a support group for thyroid cancer patients, as well as their families and caregivers, is asked to call Terri Gates at 724-4849 or e-mail her at tlgates@verizon.net. A thyroid cancer survivor, Gates wants to hold positive, informal sessions.

The Reiki Healing Circle group will meet every third Wednesday of the month at Open Hands Natural Healing Center, located at 76 South Main St. The session will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. For more information, call 527-2563 or 442-3314.

Mysticism, Mythology and Magic is seeking free thinkers for a discussion group. To join, call 527-7839.

The Bear Clan Medicine Lodge will meet on the second and fourth Sunday of each month at the Old Fort library, located on Mitchell Street. For more information, contact lavonneemery@yahoo.com or call 803-7269.

Little Tikes Enrichment Academy, located at the Corpening Memorial YMCA, is now enrolling for the 2008-2009 school year. Classes are 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, for ages 2 to 5 years. The Y is also enrolling students for the afterschool program. For more information, call Lori Frommer at 659-9622, ext.115.

Isothermal Planning and Development Commission, along with the Department of Energy is offering a Weatherization Assistance Program to help low-income families save money on their energy bills. For more information, contact Becky McKelvey at (828) 287-2281, ext. 1238.

Money is available to serve children 3 to 5 years old in need of assistance with dental care. Applications are available from the McDowell Partnership for Children & Families, located at 70 N. Main St. in Marion. Funding is limited. For more information, call 659-2462.

Children in the community who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect need a caring adult to look out for their best interests while in the court system. To find out how you can become a Guardian ad Litem, call 652-4632.

Al-Anon, a support group for families and friends of alcoholics and/or drug users, meets each Wednesday at 8 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church parish house, 339 S. Main St. Teens welcome. For more information, call 652-0088.

A Narcotics Anonymous group meets every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8 to 9 p.m. and an Alcoholics Anonymous group meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to 1 p.m. Both groups meet at the Hut of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church on West Court Street.

The McDowell Senior Center offers free computer classes taught by McDowell Tech for seniors 65 or older. Classes are offered on Monday and Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. To register, call Cheryl Woody at 652-8953, ext. 315.

A McDowell County Alzheimer's support group will meet on the first Tuesday of each month at the McDowell Senior Center from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. For more information, call (828) 254-7363.

Local information and services are now available at the Web site www.mcdowellinfo.com. Included are a calendar of events and Web listings for the arts, business support services, education, healthcare, local government, McDowell County facts, public support systems and tourism.

If you or someone you know is a veteran of World War II and currently living in McDowell County, the McDowell County veterans services officer requests you submit a letter with your name, address and phone number for a registry to be made of all survivors. Information will remain private. Information may be submitted to CVSO, 100 Spaulding Road, Marion, NC 28752.

The Marion group of Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 8 to 9 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal parish house located at 339 S. Main St.

The McDowell News has hundreds of old photos from its archives that are now available to the public. These photos are from 1985 to 2000 and include sports events, group photos and random shots of people and places throughout McDowell. You can buy three photos for $1. All money collected will go toward the Newspapers in Education campaign. You can stop by the office at 136 Logan St. and look through the pictures published in our newspapers throughout the years.

McDowell County Animal Shelter has applications for adoption dogs that have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated and completed an eight-week obedience training class issued by the N.C. Division of Prisons. The adoption fee is $150. For more information, call 652-6643.

HOPE, Helping Other People Excel, a non-profit organization for mentally and physically handicapped people, is looking for donations of money or time to start an activity center. For more information, call 652-5917.

Extra McDowell High yearbooks are available for sale, with the release date being Wednesday. Cost is $63.99 and books may be purchased by contacting the school at 652-7920.