TV Week – February 15, 2025 https://www.bladenjournal.com/tv-books/105945/tv-week-february-15-2025 2025-02-13T10:14:38Z ]]> ]]> Lady Knights earn conference W https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105942/lady-knights-earn-conference-w 2025-02-11T05:53:00Z Alex Brooks The Bladen Journal

SPIVEY’S CORNER- The West Bladen Lady Knights defeated the Midway Lady Raiders for a 51-49 victory in a SAC 6 Conference showdown last Friday evening. The Lady Knights overall record moved to 5-13 and they earned their first conference win of the season with their victory over Midway. The Fairmont Golden Tornadoes(19-1, 8-0) will pay a visit to Bladenboro this Tuesday as the season approaches the final week of regular-season action. Fairmont will go into Tuesday’s match-up with motivation of securing the SAC 6 title outright with a win over the Lady Knights.

The Golden Tornadoes handled their closet challengers of St. Pauls in a 19 point victory at home last Friday. Freshman Lyric McNair dropped 19 points in the Golden Tornadoes decisive victory over their Robeson County neighbors. Fairmont will end their regular-season against the Clinton Darkhoreses’ on Friday. Clinton and St. Pauls are tied for second-place in the conference standing at 6-2. Both teams have an outside chance of staking a claim to the SAC 6 Conference title depending on how the leaders handle this upcoming week.

West Bladen is also slated to take on the East Bladen Lady Eagles(20-1,10-0) on the road this Thursday for a non-conference clash between rivals. The Lady Knights will conclude their regular-season against Red Springs at home to conclude the week. Red Springs have an overall record of 6-15 and they are currently fifth-place in the standings at 2-7. The Lady Red Devils of Red Springs have been on a three game skid but they will play their final two games of the season against the league’s bottom two.

Midway(7-11, 1-7) will travel across county-lines to take on Red Springs this Tuesday and finish their season against St. Pauls on Friday.

WEST BLADEN GIRLS BASKETBALL 24/25:

Bristol Allen FR.

Kali Allen JR.

Alina Chavez SR.

Serenity Council FR.

Micheala Hester FR.

Holland Davis SR.

Laurin Lesane FR.

Saniya Martin SO.

Amiya McCarty FR.

JaNya McKeithan FR.

Natalee Sykes JR.

Addison Wilcox FR.

Aniya Willis FR.

Jahyrah Priest JR.

Vera Valentiner FR.

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West Bladen continues to impress https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105940/west-bladen-continues-to-impress 2025-02-11T05:50:00Z Alex Brooks The Bladen Journal

BLADENBORO- The West Bladen Knights defeated the Clinton Darkhoreses’ for a 64-26 victory in a SAC 6 Conference match-up. West Bladen offense was flowing through senior center Chase Williams as he led all scorers with 21 points. The Knights backcourt duo were also clicking on offense as senior guard Hezekiah Adams concluded his night with 13 points and junior guard Jackson Pait drained three triples in a 12 point scoring night. The Darkhorses’ struggled to break through their opponents defense and suffered several missed shots as a result.

Pait snatched a steal and pushed the ball ahead to Adams for an easy finish in transition for the opening score of the first quarter. Clinton attempted to penetrate the heart of the Knights defense but failed to convert the tough lay-up in the crowded lane. West Bladen sophomore forward Kendell Lesane finished with an acrobatic lay-up on the other end of the floor to stretch the host lead to 4-0. The visitors missed on the other end of the floor and Pait would eventually drain his first three-pointer of the game to force them into a timeout after four minutes past.

Clinton resorted to a long-range shot from beyond the arc but failed to convert as their cold-run continued on offense. The Knights sprung quickly on the break after collecting the missed shot and Lesane would lay it up for two while the Darkhoreses’ trailed behind in transition. Adams would snatch a steal and finish the lay-up on the other end of the floor to extend the host lead to double-digits.

Clinton sophomore guard Amir White drained a three-pointer to give the visitors their first points of the evening with under five minutes remaining in the opening quarter. West Bladen was able to respond after Lesane collected an offensive board and delivered an assist to Williams for an easy flush inside to make the score 13-3. Clinton finished the remainder of the quarter strong as they began the next quarter behind by 13. Williams grabbed an offensive board and finished over defenders to stretch the Knights lead to 20-5.

The visitors tried to force their way inside but failed to answer and Adams converted a two-pointer on the opposite end of the floor to pile onto their pain. Clinton junior Henry Bass finally got a shot to fall to end the visitors cold-run and make the score 22-7. Williams was responsible for the Knights next three field goals as they started to race away from their opponents. Pait drained a deep-three from way beyond the arc to help the host to a 24 point cushion with under two minutes remaining in the half.

Bass responded with a mid-range jumper in favor of the visitors but Pait answered with a mid-range jumper of his own and was fouled in the process for an opportunity to convert a three-point play. Clinton mustered a response with senior Zy Wallace banking a mid-range shot to give the Darkhorses a little bit of momentum as the first half was coming to a close. Williams bullied defenders down low to snatch an offensive board and drained a quick two. The Darkhorses attempted to push the ball down the floor in the final seconds but turned the ball over instead.

Adams pushed the ball ahead to Williams for the final bucket of the half as the Knights went into the break ahead by 38-11. The Knights followed their victory over the Darkhoreses’ with a 40 point road win against the Midway Raiders on Friday. There were four Knights that finished in double-digit scoring against Midway–Adams led all scorers with 19 points, Williams and Pait both concluded the night with 17 points apiece, and junior forward Tylik McCall finished the night with 10 points. West Bladen’s overall record moves to 20-1 and they stay perfect in conference action at 8-0. They have a chance to claim the SAC 6 Regular-season title outright with a victory over Fairmont(14-6, 7-1) this Tuesday.

There’s only two conference games remaining on the Knights schedule and they’ll conclude their regular-season against Red Springs at home this Friday. West Bladen will also take on the East Bladen Eagles in a non-conference match-up between county rivals this Thursday. Fairmont defeated St. Pauls by a 31 point margin to keep them in the hunt for the SAC 6 title and they earned their fourth straight victory since their last defeat against West Bladen a few weeks ago.

WEST BLADEN ROSTER 24/25:

Hezekiah Adams SR.

Ty’Leak Ballard SR.

Demarion Bryant JR.

Hunter Hester SR.

Keonta Hill JR.

Kendall Lesane SO.

Tylik McCall JR.

Conner Monroe SR.

Jackson Pait JR.

Jamari Adams-Peterson JR.

Justin Spaulding JR.

Chase Williams SR.

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Lady Eagles one game away https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105937/lady-eagles-one-game-away 2025-02-11T05:48:00Z Alex Brooks The Bladen Journal

ELIZABETHTOWN- The East Bladen Lady Eagles defeated the West Columbus Lady Vikings for a 59-8 victory last Friday in a Waccamaw Conference match-up. It was senior night for the Lady Eagle backcourt duo of Iveonna “NeNe” Ward and Laila Smith as they rose to the occasion to help their team cruise to a sixth straight victory. Smith started the game by winning the opening tip and a few moments later would pick out Niyah Wooten for the game’s first basket.

The Lady Vikings were smothered by their opponents full-court press and they turned the ball over for easy buckets in transition. Wooten received a pass from Ward to stretch the Lady Eagles lead to 4-0. West Columbus called their first timeout after 30 seconds into the first quarter but the onslaught would continue.

East Bladen junior forward Cabria Baldwin snatched a steal to ignite a fastbreak before connecting a pass with Wooten; Wooten then launched a pass down the court to Ward for the fastbreak score to push the host ahead by 6-0. Ward would make the first three-pointer of the game after junior forward Ariel Cromartie was able to salvage a second chance opportunity on a missed shot. The host score would quickly balloon 23-0 by the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter was much of the same from the Lady Eagles.

Ward poked the ball away from her opponent before securing the steal and feeding Smith on the fastbreak for two as the lead continued to swell. The Lady Vikings attempted to push the ball up the floor with pace but the referee’s whistle halted their motion to cite a violation. The host proceeded to move the ball around the perimeter and settled for the long-range bomb to no avail; fortunately for the host, Smith was able to secure the offensive board before finishing at the rim to extend the score to 29-0.

The one-way traffic had the visitors searching for answers as they struggled to break free from their opponents defense. Sophomore guard Tatum Allen splashed the second three-pointer of the game as the host lead stretched to 42 in a blink. West Columbus guard Iyana Lowery banked a three-pointer from the top of the key to finally break the visitors deadlock with under three minutes remaining in the first half. East Bladen sophomore forward Navaeh Brown provided the host with an immediate answer a few moments later as she drained a lay-up.

The Lady Eagles went into the halftime break with a 51-3 lead to give them enough cushion to see out the game. Ward finished the first half with 14 points, four assists and she bagged five steals. Smith finished the first half with 12 points and she bagged plenty of steals herself. East Bladen approved their record to 18-3 and they improved their conference record to 10-0 with two league games remaining. They can secure their second straight Waccamaw regular-season title with a victory over the Pender Lady Patriots this Monday on the road.

Pender suffered a 61-23 defeat against the Lady Eagles in their first match-up of the season as they failed to corral their opponents on defense. The Lady Patriots are currently fifth in the Waccamaw standings at 3-5 and they’ve lost their last two games. East Bladen will also be slated to take on West Bladen(5-13, 1-7) this Thursday for their final regular-season game of the season. The East Columbus Lady Gators remain in the chase for the regular-season conference title as they move to 8-2 after defeating Whiteville by a 14 point margin.

East Columbus will be depending on Pender to squeak out a result against East Bladen this Monday for a chance at a share of the trophy. The Lady Eagles will claim first-place outright with a victory on Monday and they’ll get dibs on the top seed once the 1A playoff brackets are drawn. East Columbus will play Heide Trask and West Columbus for their final two games of the season. Whiteville and Heide Trask will go into this final week deadlocked at 5-4 as they both sit in third-place with two games remaining.

Both teams are fighting for the conference’s top-seed as the 2A representative for this year’s postseason. Whiteville will host East Bladen this Tuesday and conclude their season against South Columbus on Friday evening. Heide Trask will start their week against East Columbus on Tuesday at home, then they will host West Columbus and then conclude their season against Pender on Friday.

EAST BLADEN GIRLS BASKETBALL 24/25:

Tatum Allen SO.

Cabria Baldwin JR.

Neveah Brown SO.

Ariel Cromartie JR.

Taylor Dowless SO.

Tyliah Freeman SO.

Nia McKoy JR.

Aaliyah Monroe SO.

Sana’a Singletary FR.

Laila Smith SR.

Iveonna “NeNe” Ward SR.

Niyah Wooten JR.

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Eagles fly away with senior night victory https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105934/eagles-fly-away-with-senior-night-victory 2025-02-11T05:45:00Z Alex Brooks The Bladen Journal

ELIZABETHTOWN- The East Bladen Eagles defeated the West Columbus Vikings for a 54-27 victory last Friday night in a Waccamaw Conference clash. East Bladen honored five seniors before the game for Senior Night–guard Chace Butler, guard Dominick Collins, forward Shane Hankins, guard Sherman Long and forward Kewone Maynor. West Columbus jumped ahead by four in the opening minutes after scrappy possessions from both teams. Butler was able to get the Eagles on the board after speeding down the floor on a fastbreak with six minutes played in the first quarter.

West Columbus attempted to force a shot from the inside to no avail and their opponents claimed their first lead of the game on a Long three-point attempt. Hankins blocked a shot to keep the Vikings away from the Eagles net but the host would suffer a similar fate on the other end of the floor. West Columbus sophomore Larry “DJ” Graham would deliver a pass inside to Sam Battle and Battle would get fouled on the way up. Battle proceeded to go 1-for-2 at the charity stripe to tie the game at 5-5 with the first quarter winding down.

Graham would open the quarter with a three-ball to get the visitors going in the opening minutes of the second quarter. East Bladen’s Long penetrated the interior of the Vikings defense and finished the two-point drive with the right-hand. The Vikings would stay ahead by three after a series of misses and turnovers from both teams. The Eagles would end their momentary cold-run with Collins delivering a two-point floater inside a crowded lane to claw the host back within one. West Columbus found it difficult to break through their opponents defense and turnovers were the result of their impatience.

East Bladen reclaimed the lead with Collins assisting Hankins for a three-ball to put the host ahead 12-10. Both teams traded buckets but Collins kept his team in front with a pull-up jumper to stretch the host lead to four. East Bladen guard Tevin McClean sprawled on the ground for a loose ball before feeding Maynor ahead on the fastbreak; Maynor was fouled on his way up and proceeded to go 2-for-2 at the charity stripe.

West Columbus sent a three-ball towards the rim but failed to convert with seconds remaining until the halftime buzzer. Collins converted two free throws and the Eagles were able to force a turnover on the inbound pass for an extra possession. Hankins was fouled on his three-point heave at the buzzer and converted all three free throws to give the host a 23-12 lead at the break. The third quarter was dominated by the Eagles as Hankins splashed three triples in the first few minutes of the quarter to give them a 33-12 cushion.

The Vikings were able to respond with junior forward Demond Williams fighting down low to get a bucket to fall from in close. Emanuez Jones drove baseline for a finish inside to slice the visitors deficit to 17 but the Vikings failed to score for the remainder of the third quarter. Hankins drained another three-ball and Long finished a 1-and-2 opportunity at the line to usher in the final quarter ahead by 23. East Bladen’s overall record moves to 8-12 and they currently sit in fifth-place in the conference standings with two league games remaining.

They will take on their next two opponents on the road, starting with Pender this Monday and Whiteville will host the Eagles on Tuesday. East Bladen will play their final regular-season game of the season against their county rivals West Bladen(20-1, 8-0) at home this Thursday. The Whiteville Wolfpack remain in first-place in the conference standings at 8-2 but will need to win their next two games to claim the Waccamaw Conference title. They are slated to take on South Columbus this Friday after their match-up with East Bladen.

Heide Trask(12-9, 7-2) has a chance to claim a share of the Waccamaw Conference title if they win their next three games. They will host East Columbus on Tuesday and West Columbus on Wednesday before their final game on the road against Pender this Friday.

EAST BLADEN ROSTER 24/25:

Dominick Collins SR.

Chace Butler SR.

Sherman Long SR.

Kewone Maynor SR.

Shane Harkins SR.

Keyshawn Kemp JR.

Dashon Campbell JR.

Tevin McClean JR.

Khalil McKoy JR.

Yoni Gonzalez JR.

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Southeast region registrars meeting held Feb. 7 https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105932/southeast-region-registrars-meeting-held-feb-7 2025-02-11T05:40:00Z Mark DeLap The Bladen Journal
Bladen Community College Hosted the Southeast region registrars meeting Friday.

DUBLIN - Bladen Community College proudly hosted the quarterly Southeast Region Registrars Feb. 7, bringing together registrars from across the region to discuss emerging issues, share best practices, and explore innovative ways to improve academic processes.

The event, which was held both in person and online, provided a valuable platform for networking and collaboration among higher education professionals. Dr. Amanda Lee, President of Bladen Community College, opened the meeting by welcoming attendees and emphasizing the importance of collaboration in addressing the challenges and evolving needs of student registration and academic records management.

“This meeting is an excellent opportunity for us to come together, exchange ideas, and build stronger connections within our professional community,” said Dr. Lee. “We are proud to host this event and contribute to the ongoing work of improving processes that ultimately benefit students and institutions across the region.”

The quarterly gathering serves as an important forum for registrars to discuss trends and challenges facing their institutions, such as regulatory changes, technology advancements, and student support strategies.

Participants also had the chance to engage in meaningful discussions that foster professional development and provide solutions to common challenges in the field. The Southeast Region Registrars Meeting was a resounding success, bringing together a diverse group of professionals who are committed to enhancing the academic experience for students throughout the region. For more information about Bladen Community College and upcoming events, please visit www.bladencc.edu

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Valentine cinnamon rolls with lemon blueberry compote https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105925/valentine-cinnamon-rolls-with-lemon-blueberry-compote 2025-02-11T03:01:00Z
Thecia DeLap The Bladen Journal

Valentine’s Day is approaching and so many are scrambling around trying to figure out and find the perfect gift to show their true love! How about starting off the day with Breakfast in Bed or ending the day with the Perfect Dessert. Here is one so simple and quick that can be served either way and, by also scenting your home with that freshly baked cinnamon and lemony fragrance adding to this romantic day.

Here is your shopping list:

1. 2 Cups of fresh blueberries (washed)

2. 2 Tbsp Sugar

3. 1 Large Lemon Zested and cut in half

4. Pillsbury Large Cinnamon Rolls (5 Count)

5. 2 Tbsp Heavy Cream

6. 1/2 Cup confectioner’s sugar

7. 1 tsp lemon juice

Make the Compote:

In a medium size pot and over medium-low heat, add the blueberries, Sugar and 1 Tbsp of the juice from the lemon. Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves and blueberries release their juices.

Taste for sweetness. If you prefer a sweeter compote, then a bit of sugar. Continue cooking so it thickens a bit (8-10 minutes). Remove from heat and let it cool.

This part is important as this will allow it to thicken even more. You can make this up to a week in advance and store it in the refrigerator. If you choose this, then make sure to warm it up just a bit before serving.

Make the Cinnamon Rolls: Follow the Directions on Package

Make the Glaza:

In a small bowl, take the confectioners sugar, heavy whipping cream and 1 tsp from the juice of the lemon. Stir together until fully incorporated. Stir in the icing that comes with the Cinnamon Rolls until smooth. This should not be too thin but not as thick as the icing that came with the rolls. You want to be able to drizzle this over Cinnamon Rolls.

Assembly:

Place one Cinnamon Roll on a dessert plate. Add the blueberry compote on top. With a spoon, drizzle the icing over the top. Sprinkle with the Lemon Zest.

Note: So simple that even a kitchen novice can put this together. If the compote is a bit too much, substitute with any canned pie filling of your choice. Remember, this is a His and Her’s kind of Day so either one will gain points with this delicious surprise.

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Live Oak: Small in stature, mighty in purpose https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105918/live-oak-small-in-stature-mighty-in-purpose 2025-02-11T10:51:00Z Mark DeLap The Bladen Journal

WHITE OAK – In ancient times something was written about the very small in size which thought itself insignificant for almost 4,000 years. Until it was prophesied, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands…”

And then… Christ was born there.

Scott Hubbard in desiringgod.org said, “Christians worship a big God with a big mission that will one day reach this whole big world. Yet for all of his bigness, our God has a remarkable love for the small.”

We are also instructed to never despise our day of small beginnings.

In the northernmost regions of Bladen County a small work has begun and the ripples are being felt all over the region. At the Live Oak United Methodist Church in White Oak, there was a brainstorming session where Pastor Mark Gustafson asked his small group of congregants to write down ideas for how they could reach out and be missionaries to their world. Two of the ideas were for a food pantry and a clothing rack.

Little did they know, the church would fill up quickly with this powerful ministry and it would become, the Neighboring Heart Ministry Food Pantry and Clothes Closet.

According to warmnc.org, Gustafson is “a former engineer with 20 years of experience in Structural Engineering with a primary focus on bridge design and inspection, Mark is now an ordained pastor in The United Methodist Church. Having finished seminary in June of 2020, Mark has served in Bladen County ever since. He is the lead pastor at three churches in the area. He is excited to see where God leads all of us within this community through the work of WARM, for by lending a helping hand to those in need within our community, we are following our Lord’s call for our lives.”

He’s a pastor who is not only skilled in bridge design and inspection, but through the Neighboring Heart Ministry Food Pantry and Clothes Closet, he has proven that he is also skilled in spiritual bridge design for his communities.

“This pantry showed up when two refugees from this Methodist affiliation came to this church,” said Live Oak UMC volunteer and congregant, Lisa O’Donnell. “Mark (Gustafson) looked at me and said, ‘You’re on another pantry and you’ve done this for a while, haven’t you?’”

He then asked her if she would be willing to work on the newly birthed pantry and she was excited at the opportunity. Her husband of 11 years, Mike O’Donnell who is also a volunteer at the pantry said with a quick Irish wit that they felt as if “thou shalt” came into play at some point. At first, he was surprised to see her passion and commitment dealing with the project.

“Nobody understands the almost unhealthy determination that I have,” she said. “To make sure that people who don’t have it, get it.”

At this point, although it may be a bit of a trek to get to the pantry, there are an influx of people relocating to that area. One of the great problems at this point is visibility. Up until this point, it’s been word-of-mouth. Many don’t know that help is out there. Many more don’t know that they can be vessels to aid in this quest to help in an area that although small, the need is very great.

A small band of volunteers are changing their corner of the world and making a difference in the lives of human beings that, for whatever reason need a little help. Some need a lot of help. And these volunteers are not on duty because they have to or because they are getting paid or because they hope to become rich and famous. They are not there just for two major holidays serving green beans and turkey, not that that’s a bad thing, but they are there twice a week – faithful and standing with a servant’s heart knowing that the work that they are doing is not going unnoticed in the realms of heaven.

It’s a higher calling to “Can you help me?”

At this point, the group has 70 people in need registered and from that registry the volunteers are helping between 8-10 people a day. Although they aren’t feeding five thousand with fish and bread, they are certainly making a difference to individuals in a very rural area where there is not a lot of help to be found.

One of those individuals was a small boy in first grade who was in the pantry recently with his dad and while holding cans of beans and other foodstuffs in their bag, he looked up and said to his father, “Oh boy, dad, we’re going to eat good tonight, aren’t we.”

Whenever you have a child in a pantry making that kind of a statement – all the world needs to stop and hear it.

Running a food pantry in seemingly the middle of nowhere can have its challenges and its rewards.

“It’s just knowing that I’m helping someone… that is important to me,” pantry volunteer Diane Bush said. “They come in and they’re all excited. I’ve noticed that when they come in, they go right to the baby clothes. I always tell them that if it doesn’t fit right now, it will later.”

Everything that comes in – comes in by way of donation. It goes out as a gift. There is no charge for food or clothing at the Live Oak pantry and food rack.

“Our next food drive is coming out of Stedman,” O’Donnell said. “Boy Scout and Cub Scout troop 701 are doing a food drive for us in Stedman this weekend. They will do a food and a money drive. We have also been the lucky recipient of two “creating new economy” grants from resourceful communities which is a division of the conservation fund. Primarily it is a Methodist social welfare fund. We are also going to look at other grants as we expand.”

O’Donnell wrote the first two grants and Joyce Strickland; a volunteer who resides in Elizabethtown is also planning on writing more of the grants. Strickland who is a retired English teacher is excited about diving into grant writing.

“We need the grant to help buy the food,” Strickland said. “Then we will take turns going grocery shopping. We really got to the point where someone was shopping every week. That’s how much we are going through. The last two Christmas’ we also did the advent calendars. Three different churches did an Advent food box so we got a lot of food donated that way. With the clothes, people found out about it and have been cleaning out and spring cleaning and if they don’t know where to take things, I always say that we’ll take it. The clothes have really blossomed to more than what we thought. In fact, we are running out of space for that.”

The only requirement for clothing donations is that the items be washed and lightly worn.

“We are also one of the few food banks that has pet foods,” Strickland said. “Mostly because we are all pet owners. We also give out paper goods, hygiene products, dish detergent, detergent, shampoo, soap and toothpaste.”

There is a reason that the group provides a lot of items that many pantries wont.

“Food stamps and assistance programs won’t cover those items,” O’Donnell said. “And you still have to keep your house clean and you’ve still got to keep yourself clean. And if you have an animal, they still have to be fed.”

Other than just rooms for the food pantry and one for the clothing racks, there are also other rooms in the church that have been unutilized for storage, and because of the growing popularity, the building itself is becoming “smaller” as the nursery has been utilized for storage and also an office.

“We are busting out of space,” Strickland said. “We need both actually, more food and more space. As for expanding hours, I rather doubt it, because another great need is for volunteers. There’s so few of us working. We have reached out to other churches and we have had a lot interest in people wanting to come and help, but nothing yet.”

The small group is determined and they all have a passionate commitment level. The down-side is that the entire project is now run by only eight individuals. They up-side is that they all consider it their ministry.

“At the point that your heart breaks, you become missional,” O’Donnell said. “A lot of people will not relate to it until something directly affects them. Or they may see somebody they know that has been directly affected. It’s hard to see an eight-month-old does not need to be sleeping shelter next to her mother and her father sleeping outside in the churchyard across the street because it’s a women’s only shelter.”

It’s then when you go from saying “It’s not my ministry to how can I help?”

Or the little girl who was asked, “I bet your mom is all excited about helping you with the baby.” To which the girl replied, “I don’t have one of those,” referring to having a mother.

The Neighboring Heart Ministry Food Pantry and Clothes Closet is on the grow and as they grow, they will undoubtedly go through some growing pains and have a lot of needs. They are in need of more freezer space, another refrigerator, extra shelving to keep the food off the floor in case of a flood and so much more.

The heartbreaker in this ministry for the O’Donnell’s has been the fact that there is more need that hasn’t found them yet.

Looking at this Gideon group fighting a mighty battle is inspiring, and looking at them, one of the great unspoken needs and most offered prayers is, “Lord, let others come and find their ministry.”

Live Oak United Methodist Church Neighboring Heart Ministry Food Pantry and Clothes Closet address: - 832 Live Oak Methodist Church Rd, White Oak, NC 28399

Phone: 910-703-5093

Hours: Tuesday and Saturday 10 a.m. - noon

While in Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon’s wife, Jennie Gordon created a “Hunger Initiative” during COVID that helped to keep the children going hungry in a great time of need. Aspirations are being developed here in North Carolina to follow suit and find a way to create our own hunger initiative. The video that was done in 2023 at the Wyoming Governor’s Mansion sheds light on a groundbreaking idea concerning hunger in your own state can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KV9xvYJluA&t=990s

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Habitat for Humanity celebrates new homeowners https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105908/habitat-for-humanity-celebrates-new-homeowners 2025-02-11T09:58:00Z Mark DeLap The Bladen Journal
Deanna Lacewell drives down her new driveway for the very first time as Habitat for Humanity was on hand to hand her the keys to her new home in Elizabethtown. She will be taking possession of her new home with her daughter Jahnoiah and her son, Nathan.

ELIZABETHTOWN – A project and a dream that began a few years ago finally came to fruition Thursday as two new homeowners stepped over the thresholds of their new homes as they walked into their miracles.

“We were really blessed to absorb the Bladen County Habitat a number of years ago,” Brandon Price, CEO of the Fayetteville Habitat for Humanity, which covers Bladen, Sampson and Cumberland Counties said. “Because of the Bladen County Board of Commissioners and because of their contributions, we were able to build these two houses. We are also planning to continue to build in this community and have at least three more homes that we know for sure that are going to be built.”

The homes that were dedicated and owner-occupied last Thursday were both newly constructed homes that were built on Habitat for Humanity lots.

“When we acquired Bladen County Habitat, this land was already owned by Habitat,” Price said. “We ‘inherited it’ if you will. We came out and looked at possibilities of building both here and Sampson County. This property was good and we decided to go ahead and break ground.”

The first property dedicated last week was closed Thursday morning and was ready for the new owner to take possession of her new house that afternoon at 2:30. Deanna Lacewell and her family which included her son, Nathan and her daughter Jahnoiah drove into their new driveway at approximately 2:25 p.m. with big smiles on their faces.

“Part of what happens with the Habitat process and how it all comes together is unique,” Price said. “When Habitat was originally founded, it was founded on the principal that we would help each other build our homes at cost and then we would sell the unit to the family and that family would pay a mortgage. That would raise money enough to build the next home.”

Habitat for Humanity “builds decent, affordable housing for low- to moderate-income families. Qualified, board-approved partner families complete 300 hours of sweat equity and home ownership training before getting the opportunity to purchase a Habitat House with an affordable mortgage. The houses that were built for Bladen were built for approximately $140K, but appraise for a lot more.

“We carry a silent second from what we sell the home for and what the family can afford,” Price said. “They end up paying an affordable mortgage because we can’t put a family in a home for greater than 30% of their monthly income.”

The family mortgage comes out somewhere to between $500 and $700.

Monika Morales which was a part of the Habitat team that celebrated and welcomed the new family to their new home said that one of the most enjoyable parts of her job was to work with a lot of volunteers. She is the manager of the Habitat for Humanity Restore located at 3833 Bragg Blvd. in Fayetteville. Her store is used to help raise funds to put back into the building of the new Habitat homes. People can volunteer at the Restore as well as becoming a volunteer to work on an actual construction project.

“It is so fun to meet a lot of new people who have a heart to bless others,” Morales said.

Lacewell who purchased the first home in Elizabethtown that was dedicated was relieved and grateful to be at the end of her journey.

“I am beyond excited and blessed” she said. “It was a long journey, but I made it. I think this was a good choice and it’s a good community. My daughter goes to West Bladen and my son has already graduated.”

A special presentation of celebration and prayer was offered at each home and that celebration included an introduction of the family, words of encouragement, the presentation of a family Bible, an American flag that was mounted on a front pillar of the home and prayer before the keys were handed over and for the very first time, the new owners opened their new front door.

As Lacewell addressed the crowd, she said, “It’s been a long journey here for me. I wanted my mother to be here but she passed away in October, but she’s here with us in spirit.”

After the Lacewell family took a full tour of their new home, the Habitat for Humanity caravan proceeded down the block to the next home which was purchased by Stacey Butts Williams.

“I’m just very, very excited to have a place of my own,” Williams said. “It is a place to raise my adopted grandchild (Angel). I’ve not been in the house since they finished up everything. It’s everything I’ve wanted and prayed for and so much more. It’s been a long time coming.”

William’s grandchild who will attending Elizabethtown Primary said that this new house was “the world” to him.

As Price took center stage to welcome all the visitors and the William’s family, he said, “We are an unapologetic Christian organization and we will open this up with prayer and called Rev. Charles Dixson up to bless the house and the family.

As Williams addressed the friends and family who came to support her, she told of the many hours of prayer that were invested in her new home, which she knew was hers even before she owned it.

“I’ve trusted and depended on the dear Lord,” she said. “Sometimes I would go to bed I would just say, God, I trust you. That is what I dwelled on. They say weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning. And I am just so happy and to be here at this point. We finally made it. We had some humps and hills to cross, but we made it. I just thank everybody and appreciate everything we went through in the journey.”

Refreshments were provided by Habitat for Humanity and now the joyous journey of moving in and taking possession of their promises begins.

More pictures of this event can be seen on the Bladen Journal Facebook page.

For more information concerning Habitat for Humanity, you can visit them at 733 Bargain Street in Fayetteville, NC or give their director of marketing Ashley Thompson a call at (910) 593-1971.

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Hangout Hub to host ‘Game of Drones’ https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105905/hangout-hub-to-host-game-of-drones 2025-02-11T09:29:00Z Mark DeLap The Bladen Journal
“Thank you, Bladenboro Primary School Betas for serving your community by donating stuffed animals and Valentine’s Day cards to our Nursing Home project!” - The Bladen County Public Library

ELIZABETHTOWN – There have been some exciting things going on at the Bladen County Public Library and some “stellar” things to come.

For the February E-town Hangout Hub the library will be hosting “Game of Drones” which will be teaching children ages 11-18 about drones and can even fly a drone – getting hands on flight experience. Free drinks and snacks are provided. The session will take place at the library from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

For the Hangout Hub in Clarkton, there will be a 3-D printing workshop where children 11-18 will be able to learn how to do 3-D printing. The kids will be able to make custom items to take home with them. Free drinks and snacks are provided. The session will take place from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

The Hangout Hubs are in cooperation with the NC cooperative extension and 4-H.

Game of Drones - Feb. 21 (Elizabethtown) 3:30-5:30

3D Printing Workshop - Feb. 18 (Clarkton) 3:30-5:30

Register TODAY! Elizabethtown (910) 862-6990

Clarkton (910) 647-3661

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Don’t forget to flush, America https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105903/dont-forget-to-flush-america 2025-02-11T09:10:00Z

In 1829, Isaiah Rogers, wowed the country with his unique and into the future Tremont Hotel in Boston. It was the first hotel to have indoor plumbing and became the first of many. It didn’t really catch on in a lot of homes and people thought it out of their scope to have something that seemed so “foolish” when you could simply walk out the back door and go 30 feet to the family outhouse.

It is widely known that before electricity, people took baths once a week, usually Saturday nights so everyone would be fresh for Sunday morning church. The family used the same bathwater. By the end of the 1930s, more and more farm families started to use indoor bathrooms and running water for baths and washing dishes and clothes.

It took 101 years. A century came between the modern conveniences of an in-home bath with running water and flush toilets. Privacy. No trudging out to the family “two-holer” through a foot of snow and then sitting in subzero temperatures.

Part of the reason for the lack of change was waiting on electricity. The other part was the majority of people who had every excuse in the book for “poo-pooing” the stool. The cost would be prohibitive, the taxes would most likely go up, there would be too much maintenance, “my father and his father never had this new-fangled extravagance, and if it was good enough for them, then it’s good enough for me.”

That’s the thing about change.

To live in communities where nothing changes and there is no progress is similar to an enclosed pond with no outlet. Stagnation takes place. At some point in a town’s history you can simply look at the buildings and know what period of time they decided to stop and take a break from all the improvements. Or perhaps there was a council that couldn’t be creative enough to move forward. Or perhaps they just got tired.

Somewhere along the line Bladen County began to see the vision that was set before them and their life was creating a legacy for their children. As you watch people jogging our trails, swimming in the pools, biking the paths, you have to thank a former city government who fought against great odds to make it all happen.

Today our county speaks for itself. It is a sought-after place to live and to grow a family. It’s one of the most desirable spots to retire, it has everything you’d need for athletics, movies, theater and so much more.

Although some might like to question some of the things the councils may be moving on, but rest assured, they are taking care of your children and your grandchildren. If we pay a few dollars more in taxes, figure it as an investment in the future and your children.

Speaking of taxes, our leaders have found excess in some of the investments that . In the specifics of USAID.

Our tax money that has gone to fund such things as $50 million to fund condoms in Gaza, $1.5 million to advance DEI in Serbia’s workplaces, $37 million to the World Health Organization, $16 million in funding for institutional contractors in gender development offices.

I don’t know about you, but I am with the majority on this one. I do not want my taxes funding these things or this organization.

USA TODAY’s Nicole Russell said, “Trump and Musk should gut USAID.”

She went on to say that “Gutting the U.S. Agency for International Development sounds cruel, but President Trump needs to stop government waste.”

This is what the voters in the last election asked for and it is strange that when we are hurting here in America – and still in Western North Carolina that we would want to continue frivolous spending. The meme I saw this week that was really hitting the nail on the head was, “Let me get this straight. You are mad at the man that found the wasted billions, but not mad at the people that wasted it? Something amiss here.”

Progress is pushing forward for us here in America. Like it or not. There is coming a tightening of the belt, a microscope on the injustice and a pencil to the numbers. I believe that we will be a stronger country and able to help our neighbors when we shore up our own position.

Remember the rule of thumb in an air disaster. When the masks drop, put on your own first so you will have the consciousness and strength to help others.

Let’s retool America. Let’s make our country strong and incredible again.

Just as I close the door to the water closet, and as the weather outside is sometimes frightful, I have to thank someone who pushed for indoor plumbing in the midst of all the adversity.

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BCSD seeking information https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105901/bcsd-seeking-information 2025-02-11T08:50:00Z

BLADEN COUNTY - On Friday, January 31, at approximately 8:06 p.m., the State Highway Patrol responded to a fatal hit and run collision on NC 53 in Bladen County.

The initial investigation has revealed that a pedestrian was walking west near the 5900 block of NC 53 when he was struck by a tractor-trailer. The driver of the tractor-trailer failed to remain at the scene and fled the area after impact. The suspect vehicle is believed to be a white tractor-trailer with front end damage.

The deceased has been identified as Daishaun Demetric Edler, 24 years old, of White Oak.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol’s Troop B, District 5 is requesting the public’s help regarding this collision. Those with information can call the State Highway Patrol by dialing *HP (47), or by dialing 1-800-334-7411

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701 bridge project heading toward completion https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105897/701-bridge-project-heading-toward-completion 2025-02-11T08:45:00Z Mark DeLap The Bladen Journal
Traveling south over the 701 bridge have noticed one of the last hurdles to completion. Lights have been installed on the west side of the bridge and the town is anticipating the completed project. Mark DeLap | Bladen Journal

ELIZABETHTOWN – Anyone living in Bladen County has most likely been watching the slow and methodical construction of the 701 bridge project over the Cape Fear River.

Taking a look back, the work has come a long way. Safety, reliability, along with esthetics have been well thought out and Bladen County will have a beautiful roadway over an iconic river that should stand the test of time and the severity of North Carolina weather patterns.

The river has seen much traffic, first with Native American and early settlers forging the currents with canoes and wooden ships. It has hoisted steamers, turpentine barges, leisure boats, pontoons and will undoubtedly continue to provide passage from inland to the ocean.

Very soon, all traveling on the river and over river will hit a dusky point of the day when the guardians of the bridge will proclaim, “Let there be light.”

In April, 2022 the North Carolina Department of Transportation said that “A significant milestone in the construction of the new U.S. 701 bridge in Bladen County will occur in May when 42 girders are set into place over the Cape Fear River. The placement of the concrete-reinforced girders, which average 150 feet long, will require the existing two-lane bridge to close to traffic in both directions at scheduled times throughout much of May.”

It seems like only yesterday, but the project should come to fruition soon as final hurdle which included installation of lights along the west side of the bridge have now been installed.

Looking back, Bladen County remembers the initial closures. “The contractor will allow ambulances and law enforcement vehicles to cross the bridge, even with the girders resting on the bridge,” said the NCDOT. “Because fire trucks are too large, Elizabethtown town officials will plan to park a fire truck on the northern end for mutual aid during the closures twice each weekday. ‘We understand these closures will cause temporary inconveniences to the public, but they are necessary to safely and efficiently complete this phase of construction of the new bridge,” said Ken Clark, the NCDOT district engineer for Bladen and Columbus counties. “We also have been diligently working with our local partners and emergency responders to minimize the disruptions.’ Construction of the $23.3 million bridge project began in the summer of 2020 with the demolition of one bridge. The 1,218-foot bridge will have four lanes and is scheduled to be completed and fully opened to traffic by late spring 2024.”

That plan, of course was altered as the addition of bridge lights were proposed, planned and now installed.

In August of 2022 the Bladen Journal reported, “If you are seeing green steel, that’s a good thing — it means that concrete is on the way.” That was the message Blythe Jordan, resident engineer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, told members of the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce in reference to the U.S. 701 bridge work.

He told about 25 members that one of the questions he’s always asked is what caused the bridge to fail.

“Debris,” he said. “All the storms that took down trees along the river … they settled and actually eroded a 30-foot channel, and those two hurricanes almost back-to-back really did a number.”

Jordan said NCDOT first looked into repairing the U.S. 701 bridge — at a cost of about $15 million.

“Then we looked into the cost of replacing the bridge, and it came in at about $29 million.” he said.

That bridge, once completed, will be four lanes wide, two each way and span 1,218 feet.

But Jordan said NCDOT knows that the Cape Fear River isn’t always friendly.

“It can be pretty nasty,” he said. “But during this project, it’s been pretty cooperative. We experienced the smoothest setting of girders I’ve ever done, even while closing 701 twice a day.”

As of now, the switch of traffic to the new bridge will be May 2023, with the demolition of the old bridge in June 2023. Jordan said the project is scheduled for completion in May 2024.

The original U.S. 701 bridge was closed in November 2019.

Jordan told the Chamber group that NCDOT is responsible for 79,000 miles of road in North Carolina, which is the third largest among the 50 states. He added that, in Bladen County, there are 823 miles of paved roads and 50 miles of unpaved roads that NCDOT is responsible for.

“I’m proud of the work we do here in Bladen County,” he said. “When people complain about the roads or bridges, tell them to take a ride and look in other areas.”

The next major scheduled project in Bladen County will be a replacement of the Henry Creek bridge in 2028.

Jordan said the state is having “a lot of success with roundabouts” and that Bladen County could see more of them coming.”

Last year at this time, WECT quoted Andrew Barksdale with NCDOT as saying, ““This project is delayed, based on when it began in 2020, due, mostly, to the fact that the town of Elizabethtown wanted street lights added to this bridge. We agreed last fall to add this to the scope of work, which required a redesign for the bridge walls and to allow conduit, and to order street lights, of which there is a backlog of several months to manufacture. Also, the final phase of the bridge deck work has slowed, too,”

There have been bicycle racers over the bridge during construction, thousands of vehicles, construction equipment, cranes, emergency vehicles, gawker’s, walkers and even some mockers, but very soon, it will be completed as the newest jewel in the crown of Bladen County.

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TV Week – February 8, 2025 https://www.bladenjournal.com/tv-books/105892/tv-week-february-8-2025 2025-02-06T10:56:01Z ]]> ]]> First 2025 meeting for WLF a success https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105888/first-2025-meeting-for-wlf-a-success 2025-02-04T10:50:00Z Mark DeLap The Bladen Journal
Thirty people gathered in the town of White Lake for the first meeting of the year hosted by the White Lake Friends.

WHITE LAKE - The first General Meeting for the White Lake Friends was held January 25th and was deemed a great success.

The number of people present numbered over 30 and the energy and enthusiasm were encouraging. Those present made a list of things they would like to see this group concentrate on accomplishing.

If you want to work on one of the projects/areas of interest, email me your contact information. Thawley022@gmail.com We hope to have small groups begin working very shortly.

You can find the list on the group’s website. https://www.whitelakefriends.com/

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West Bladen unblemished in conference https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105886/west-bladen-unblemished-in-conference 2025-02-04T06:25:00Z Alex Brooks The Bladen Journal

ST. PAULS - The West Bladen Knights defeated the St. Pauls Bulldogs for a 69-15 victory in a SAC 6 Conference match-up last Friday. Senior center Chase Williams paved the way for the Knights with a game-high of 22 points and junior guard Jackson Pait added another 20 points in the victory. St. Pauls failed to score in the second and fourth quarter of Friday night’s game as they suffered a huge defeat at home. The Bulldogs overall record fell to 4-14 and they spiral down to fourth-place in the conference standings with four games remaining on their schedule.

West Bladen started last week with a 47-26 victory over the Fairmont Golden Tornadoes on the road last Monday. The Knights had three players in double-digit scoring against Fairmont-Williams led all scorers with 15 points, Pait finished the night with 11 points and sophomore forward Kenadell Lesane was responsible for 10 points. Fairmont senior forward Landon Cummings led the Golden Tornadoes with 15 points despite the defeat.

The Golden Tornadoes went on to win two straight following their defeat at the top of the week as they moved their overall record to 12-6. They clash with Midway(13-3, 4-2) this Monday for a SAC 6 battle between second and third with the regular-season coming to a close. West Bladen took on Red Springs last Tuesday for a comfortable 29 point victory on the road. Pait and senior guard Hezekiah Adams both finished with 16 points a piece on their road victory over the Red Devils.

The Knights claim first-place in the conference standings with a record of 6-0 and their overall record moves to 18-1 with five games remaining on the schedule. Head Coach Travis Pait and the Knights are six games shy of matching their win total of last season. The Clinton Darkhorses will be the next challenge for the Knights as they are slated to meet each other this Tuesday. The Darkhorses have struggled this season with an overall record of 3-16 and they’ve yet to register a win in conference action at 0-6.

WEST BLADEN ROSTER 24/25:

Hezekiah Adams SR.

Ty’Leak Ballard SR.

Demarion Bryant JR.

Hunter Hester SR.

Keonta Hill JR.

Kendall Lesane SO.

Tylik McCall JR.

Conner Monroe SR.

Jackson Pait JR.

Jamari Adams-Peterson JR.

Justin Spaulding JR.

Chase Williams SR.

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Eagles march toward the title https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105884/eagles-march-toward-the-title 2025-02-04T06:23:00Z Alex Brooks The Bladen Journal

CERRO GORDO - The East Bladen Lady Eagles defeated the West Columbus Lady Vikings for a 58-17 victory in a Waccamaw Conference clash last Thursday. Senior guard Iveonna “NeNe” Ward and junior forward Ariel Cromartie had 13 points a piece in the Lady Eagles blistering victory over conference foes. The Lady Eagles dominated on the boards and they forced their opponents into 34 turnovers to stifle their opponents offense. West Columbus junior forward led the Lady Vikings in scoring with 5 points on the night.

West Columbus suffered their sixth straight loss the following night against Whiteville as they fell to an overall record of 2-11. Head Coach Patty Evers and the Lady Eagles have been on an opposite trajectory of their last opponents as they move to an overall record of 15-3 after Thursday’s game. East Bladen may be off to the races after defeating East Columbus in a 73-48 victory last Tuesday.

Ward dropped 23 points and was responsible for five steals against East Columbus in a pivotal conference match-up. Cromartie got to the free throw line and splashed a three for 19 points as well. Senior guard Laila Smith also had 19 points and eight rebounds to her name in Tuesday’s outing against the Lady Gators. The Lady Eagles had 41 rebounds as a team and junior center Niyah Wooten was responsible for 11 boards herself. East Columbus junior forward Malia Graham led all scorers on the night with 25 points despite her team’s defeat.

East Bladen currently sit atop the Waccamaw standings with a 7-0 record with only five conference games remaining on the schedule. The East Columbus Gators were able to bounce back in their next game against South Columbus as they proceeded to thump their county rivals in a 45-5 victory on the road. East Columbus backcourt of Rylie Graham and Malayah Hines both had 15 points apiece, while Malia Graham claimed another 10 points in the win.

The Gators occupy the second-place spot in the standings at 5-2 and their overall record moved to 10-4 after the victory last Friday. They will be slated to take on West Columbus this Monday in an attempt to chase down runaway Lady Eagles. East Bladen will be slated to take on South Columbus for their next game at home this Monday and they’ll travel to South Columbus on Tuesday for conference clashes.

The Lady Eagles will conclude their busy week by hosting West Columbus on Friday with the regular-season coming down to the wire. Whiteville has an overall record of 4-11 but they sit in third-place in the conference standings at 4-3. The Lady Wolfpack got their last win against West Columbus and they will hope to take that winning form into their next game against East Columbus.

EAST BLADEN GIRLS BASKETBALL 24/25:

Tatum Allen SO.

Cabria Baldwin JR.

Neveah Brown SO.

Ariel Cromartie JR.

Taylor Dowless SO.

Tyliah Freeman SO.

Nia McKoy JR.

Aaliyah Monroe SO.

Sana’a Singletary FR.

Laila Smith SR.

Iveonna “NeNe” Ward SR.

Niyah Wooten JR.

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Eagles claim OT victory https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105882/eagles-claim-ot-victory 2025-02-04T06:21:00Z Alex Brooks The Bladen Journal

CERRO GORDO - The East Bladen Eagles defeated the West Columbus Vikings in a 53-52 overtime victory in a Waccamaw Conference clash. The Eagles were able to salvage the game with a fourth quarter comeback to send the game into overtime. Senior guard Dominick Collins helped put the Eagles within one of their opponents at the charity stripe after trailing early in the overtime period. The Vikings failed to capitalize on the following possession and the Eagles took advantage by draining a field goal from Sherman Long to go ahead by one.

West Columbus was able to retain the lead on a made shot by Emanuez Jones with time dwindling down to the wire. Senior center Dashon Campbell drained the game-winning field goal to secure the Eagles victory away from home. East Bladen’s overall record moved to 7-10 and they occupy the fifth-place spot in the conference standings at 3-4. They will host the South Columbus Stallions this Monday for their next game and they’ll meet Stallions once more for a road-game this Tuesday.

The Stallions have an overall record of 12-5 and they share first-place with the Whiteville Wolfpack at 6-2. They won three straight last week against Pender, Whiteville and East Columbus to propel them up the table. Whiteville suffered a blow to their title charge after dropping two straight against Hiede Trask and South Columbus last week. The Wolfpack were able to push past West Columbus in a 65-56 victory on the road to keep their train on the tracks. They will host East Columbus for their next conference game with four regular-season games remaining in the schedule.

Heide Trask climbed their way into third-place at 4-2 after defeating Whiteville and they will hope to keep their win streak alive against West Columbus for their next game. Heide Trask will play six conference games in the final couple weeks of the season.

EAST BLADEN ROSTER 24/25:

Dominick Collins SR.

Chace Butler SR.

Sherman Long SR.

Kewone Maynor SR.

Shane Harkins SR.

Keyshawn Kemp JR.

Dashon Campbell JR.

Tevin McClean JR.

Khalil McKoy JR.

Yoni Gonzalez JR.

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Gala 2025 https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105877/gala-2025 2025-02-04T06:17:00Z Alex Brooks The Bladen Journal

ELIZABETHTOWN - The Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chambers of Commerce hosted their annual Gala last Saturday at Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery for their “Night of Gratitude”, while also highlighting local businesses and heroes of the community. The night was made possible through the efforts of Commerce Manger, Amy Hudson as she organized and planned the event. Guests of the event were encouraged to wear their best outfits and were able to participate in a raffle for goody bags from local staples around the area.

The event was sponsored by Cape Fear Valley Health, Lu Vineyard, NC Peoples Emporium Inc., Barefoot Brew and Barefoot Sandwich Shoppe, Duke Energy, Whimsical Florist and Gifts, Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery. Awards were also handed out to recognize businesses big and small, while also highlighting the legacy of chamber members and showing appreciation for humanitarian work outside the community. The first hour of the night began with socializing and mingling before guests made their way to their seats to enjoy the dinner being served in the halls of the winery.

Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery took home the first award of the night as they were recognized as this year’s “Outstanding Chamber Members.” The Outstanding Chamber Member of the year award goes to an organization or business that’s shown exceptional service or dedication throughout the prior year. “The award recipient embodies the values of the chamber and is involved in the overall success of the community,” said Hudson before announcing the night’s first award.

Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery has experienced great expansion under the ownership of Alex Munroe through distribution of products, hosting events that attract visitors, as well as adding a spa and gift shop on the property. “This really means a lot to us,” said Munroe. “Nothing could be better than being a small business owner because there’s so many hilarious stories and things that come out of owning a small business.” Munroe emphasised his appreciation for the support customers have shown his business through the years in his acceptance speech and he acknowledged the efforts of the chamber for helping his business to thrive.

The Outstanding Small Businessperson of the Year Award was presented by Bo and Kelly Barefoot as the ceremony moved along. This award is presented to the chamber member that is invested in the Chamber, local business and the community. Dan and Wendy McQueen of Dan’s Golf Cart were given high praise from the Barefoot’s before accepting their award to an ovation from the crowd. Dan’s Golf Carts have supported new businesses in Elizabethtown and they’ve been responsible for sponsoring several events in the area, while also growing their own business through their logistical expertise.

They played a role in providing vehicles for last year’s Christmas Parade in Elizabethtown and solved parking issues at the Smithfield Cup. The Caring Persons Award went to Dale Brennan and Kevin Taylor of White Lake for their disaster relief efforts in Western NC during the tragic events of Hurricane Helene back in September. Brennan runs the White Lake Volunteer fire department and Taylor has several years of experience as the Public Works Director in White Lake. They immediately sprung into action by travelling to the hardest hit areas in the Appalachian region to provide relief and they were able to give out heating tanks through the collection of donations.

Brennan and Taylor were also front lines of the rescue efforts during major flooding in the Elizabethtown-White Lake area last year. They also helped our neighbors to the West by giving gifts to the affected communities during the Christmas period. Brennan explained that Hurricane Fran in 1996 being the turning point in his life and career. “I went to the mayor’s house and picked him up in one of the fire trucks,” said Brennan. “We went around the town of White Lake and it looked like a war zone; and ever since then, I’ve had a desire to help people.”

The next award of the night was the “Honorary Lifetime Membership Award” for the individual who has served the Chamber in an outstanding and on-going manner. This award was given to Fred Tate for his 38-years of service to the Elizabethtown Airport/Economic Development Commission. The recent developments of the Elizabethtown Industrial Park has been headed by his efforts and he was front-and-center for advocating for the new hangars at the Elizabethtown Airport. He also contributed to setting the blue-print for the new aviation jobs in the area and has helped with increasing the tax-base in the area.

The last award of the night was the “Legacy Award” and this award is given to the person who has supported the Chamber in day-to-day efforts and initiatives. Jenifer Melvin of Jones Lake State Park was this year’s recipient of the award due to her active role in promoting the Mother Nature’s Playground initiative as a member of the Tourism Promotion Committee. Melvin’s understanding of working together has earned her this year’s “Legacy Award” and she also serves on the board of Creating Outdoor Recreation Economy(CORE).

Her mother, Tomye Glenn accepted the award in her place as she was out representing the town in a conference in Greensboro on the night. Chamber President Denise Taylor Bridgers ended the night at the podium by thanking the attendees for joining them in celebrating the award winners and she introduced the new president-elect, Heather Ransom.

For more photos from the event, please visit:

https://www.facebook.com/EtownWhiteLakeChamber

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Industry Appreciation Casino Night returns https://www.bladenjournal.com/news/105875/industry-appreciation-casino-night-returns 2025-02-04T12:38:00Z Mark DeLap The Bladen Journal

ELIZABETHTOWN – Warm up the dice, dust off the cards and if you are feeling lucky, Casino Night is back Feb. 8 at the Cape Fear Winery.

Are you ready for a night of glamour and gaming? Join Bladen’s Bloomin Agri-Industrial for their annual Industry Appreciation Casino Night. The festivities will be held at the Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery.

To make it an unforgettable evening:

Start with dinner at The Cork Room and enjoy their new dinner menu. Then try your luck at the gaming tables in the Gallery Ballroom. Doors open at 7 p.m. and gaming begins at 7:30 p.m. There will be blackjack, poker and other gaming tables.

Some of the highlights are casino games, prizes and dessert.

Dinner Reservations (The Cork Room):

(910) 645-4291

Event Information:

(910) 645-2292

Don’t gamble on missing this exciting night.

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