^{Ephesians 2:4-9 "4}But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,⁵Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) ⁶And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: ⁷That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. ⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast. "

Prayer list this week includes: Bob Kleinbeck, Libby Metcalf, Frank McClellan, Joyce Noble, and Eugene Boney.

Birthdays this week include: Janelle Briant (May 31), Joe Bryant (May 31), and Karen Thompson (June 3).

Anniversaries this week include: John L. and Sue McClellan (June 1) and Bro. Billy and Glenda Wilson (June 2).

I hope everyone had a safe and pleasant Memorial Day weekend.

Mr. and Mrs. John L. and Sue McClellan celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary with an open house at their home last Saturday with many family and friends in attendance. Congratulations to the McClellans.

Rick and Peg Cole of El Dorado, Meridith Armstrong of Arkadelphia, Doug and Melinda McClellan of Searcy and Deborah Jones visited Saturday evening with Mr. and Mrs. Henry and Rachel Jones.

Bob Kleinbeck recently had back surgery in Little Rock and is recovering in rehab. Everyone keep Bob in your thoughts and prayers while he's on his road to recovery.

Rumors abound that I'm starting a library. That's not so; we already have a good one in McClellan's Country Store and it's open whenever the store is open. I recommend you stop by and find something interesting to read there.

The Clement-Stewart Hotel is open for the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 2pm to 6pm. The New Edinburg Museum is open on Sundays from 1pm to 5pm. Feel free to stop by either or both places and take a look into our town's history.

The West Saline Community Center Board's quarterly meeting will be Monday, June 6, at 7pm in the conference room. All area residents are invited to attend. The WSCC recently acquired nine new tables and 72 cushioned folding chairs for the cafeteria through donation money. Many thanks to those who helped make that happen.

The New Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department will hold its quarterly meeting next Thursday, June 9, at 6:30pm at the fire station. All area residents are invited to attend.

The West Saline Water Users Association board meeting will also be on the evening of June 9^th. This will be their annual meeting.

Emmaus Baptist Church will be hosting its Vacation Bible School June 13th through the 16th 9am to 12pm for grades pre-K through 12. Vacation Bible School under Mrs. Ceola Warner will be held in the cafeteria of the West Saline Community Center next week from June 6 through June 10. Contact her for details.

Even though the NEHS all school reunion is coming up in early July, there's been some discussion about a special reunion for the last ten classes to graduate from our hallowed halls. Annette (Miller) Luff decided to take the bull by the horns and get such an event moving. She and others will have a planning committee meeting at the West Saline Community Center on Sunday, June 5, at 2pm in the Community Center's conference room (that's the old 5^th grade room for those of you who haven't made it there yet). Annette feels that since this is the 30^th year for the class of 1981, that class should host the event. Any and all graduates of NEHS from 1975-1985 are welcome to give input at the planning meeting and are invited to attend the reunion itself which is tentatively set for sometime in September.

One last thing about the WSCC: in the past month, we've had two near misses with funnel clouds. It's very unusual for such storms to form so near town. The old school building is a storm shelter and will be opened during such severe weather for anyone who wants to take cover there. This old brick building is one of the sturdiest structures in town and in great shape; except for a direct hit, it's the safest place you can go above ground and some people have taken advantage of its protection in the recent storms. Let's face it: metal buildings or wooden frame homes can be fatal in the face of a tornado, so don't risk your life.

If you have items of interest you would like to see in this column, get them to me by Monday 5pm in order for it to appear in that week's column. My phone number is 870-308-4608, and my email is jamescboney@gmail.com. This column will appear Monday night on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com. Go Eagles.

Romans 15:2 “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.”

Prayer list this week includes: Joyce Noble, Sue McClellan, Frank and Agnes McClellan, and Libby Metcalf. Please also remember the family of Maxine Miller.

Birthdays this week include: Connie Shaw (May 23). Happy Anniversary to Randy and Fran Nutt (May 28).

Frank McClellan has spent the last week in JRMC with several ailments, but is doing better.

The night time rain we've been getting off and on is much needed and appreciated. Last Friday night saw a slow drizzle accumulating to one inch, with about a 0.4 inch the following night.

If you wish to donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, please bring any material items such as clothes, toys, canned food, etc to Kristen Skelton at McClellan's Country Store. Monetary donations must be mailed to: SE AR American Red Cross, 211 W. 3^rd Ste. 250, Pine Bluff, AR 71601. Their office phone number is (870) 534-7312. Any and all help is sorely needed.

The Clements-Stewart Hotel Building is open for tours every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 2pm to 6pm. After you've visited there, come to the old school house and see the New Edinburg Museum every Sunday afternoon from 1pm to 5pm. Starting in June, I'll be opening the museum on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for the same time period. Both places are greatly appreciated by those who stop to see the sights. Visitors to the museum this past Sunday included Don and Mary Ann Hart.

Emmaus Baptist Church will be hosting its Vacation Bible School June 13^th through the 16^th 9am to 12pm for grades pre-K through 12^th.

Even though the NEHS all school reunion is coming up in early July, there's been some discussion about a special reunion for the last ten classes to graduate from our hallowed halls. Annette (Miller) Luff decided to take the bull by the horns and get such an event moving. She and others will have a planning committee meeting at the West Saline Community Center on Sunday, June 5, at 2pm in the Community Center's conference room (that's the old 5^th grade room for those of you who haven't made it there yet). Annette feels that since this is the 30^th year for the class of 1981, that class should host the event. Any and all graduates of NEHS from 1975-1985 are welcome to give input at the planning meeting and are invited to attend the reunion itself which is tentatively set for sometime in September. I'll keep you apprised here as time goes by.

I appreciate any and all who contact me with information for this column. If you have stuff you'd like to see here in print, please get it to me before Monday 5pm for inclusion in that week's column. My phone number is 870-308-4608, my email is JamesCBoney@gmail.com, or get it to me in person or on FaceBook. Go Eagles.

New Edinburg Column For This Week: May 16

Luke 18:1-8 “1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.  6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
Prayer list this week includes: Joyce Briant, Max and Lorene Dyer, Sue McClellan, David McClellan, Frank and Agnes McClellan, Lizzie Mae Martin, Gerald Totty and Libby Metcalf.

Birthdays this week include: Amber Spears (May 19), Marnell Parker (May 19), James Norris (May 20), Alaina Sims (May 21).

Mrs. Macel Loomis visited with her sister Peggy in Fulton all last week.

My aunt Jessie Noble from Little Rock visited me Sunday afternoon.

For those who didn't know: the Clements-Stewart Hotel Building is open for tours every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 2pm to 6pm. After you've visited there, come to the old school house and see the New Edinburg Museum every Sunday afternoon from 1pm to 5pm. Starting in June, I'll be opening the museum on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for the same time period. Both places are greatly appreciated by those who stop to see the sights.

Visitors to the museum this past Sunday included: Royce Wolfe, Mr. and Mrs. James Atkins, and Mr. and Mrs. George Noble.

I spent a pleasant Friday afternoon visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Pat and Rita Parham in their home. Mr. Parham is a goldmine of information and town history from the 1920s through the 1940s and I learned a lot.

A lone horseman, whose name I did not hear, passed through our town Saturday afternoon. His path is taking him from Booneville, AR, to Greenville, MS where he first met his wife. The traveler is 72 years old; he took lunch at McClellan's Country Store and his meal was prepaid by a couple of ladies who would prefer to remain nameless.

Mrs. Norma McCoy and her sister Martha Cook visited cousins last week in Amarillo, TX. On their return, they stopped in Oklahoma City, OK and the OKC Monument.

If you have items of interest that you'd like to see in this column, feel free to call me at 870-308-4608, email me at JamesCBoney@gmail.com, or see me in person before 5pm Monday in order to get it in that week's edition. Go Eagles.

We Are The Eagles: May 9th Edition

Britt, here's the column for this week. Please send back that you received it. Thanks. James

Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Prayer list for this week includes: Joyce Briant, Max and Lorene Dyer, Sue McClellan, David McClellan, Frank and Agnes McClellan, Lizzie Mae Martin, Gerald Totty, Libby Metcalf, and the family of Audrey Roebuck.

Birthdays this week include: Daniel Bryant (May 9), A. J. Moring (May 9), Kayla Herring (May 10), Kim Emerson (May 10), Michael Rawls (May 11), Devlyn Moring (May 11), Bobby Thompson (May 11), Patsy Spears (May 12), Mark Wagnon (May 13), and Marie Lash (May 14). Thanks to all who expressed birthday wishes to me last Saturday.

I hope all mothers everywhere had a great Mother's Day last Sunday. Mrs. Ollie Moring said almost her entire family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were at her home that day. Mrs. Jean Parrott reported a good visitation from her family as well.

There will be a baby boy shower for Toby and Carrie Johnson at Macedonia church at 6pm on May 14. Macedonia will have its communion service Sunday night on May 15.

If you wish to donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, please bring any material items such as clothes, toys, canned food, etc to Kristen Skelton at McClellan's Country Store. Monetary donations must be mailed to: SE AR American Red Cross, 211 W. 3^rd Ste. 250, Pine Bluff, AR 71601. Their office phone number is (870) 534-7312. Any and all help is sorely needed.

I supposed many have heard the tale of the two mysterious tombstones in the woods off of Banks Road. I roamed those woods as a kid and never saw them so they were placed there sometime after the late 1970s/early 1980s. Mr. Lee Jones discovered them about seven years or so back on the land of Marvin King. Mr. King took down the names carved thereon and gave them to me. One stone held the mark of Proctor Funeral Home in Camden, so I called that place and was informed that one man was buried near Camden and the other was buried in south Bradley County. There was no legitimate reason for either stone to be in the middle of the woods here.

Recently, Mr. Lee Jones showed me the tombstones. Through the thickest of thickets we waded until we found them almost covered by leaves and other debris. I took some pictures for my own curiosity. Both markers looked like temporary jobs which were likely replaced by more permanent markers later. In all likelihood, these two markers were found in a trash heap and placed where they are now as a Halloween prank or perhaps spook time for some kids. Who knows? Well, obviously someone knows and I have a theory, but there's no point in discussing it three decades later. It's yet another example of the strange and funny little things that go on in this town when you never see.

I appreciate any and all who contact me with information for this column. If you have stuff you'd like to see here in print, please get it to me before Monday 5pm for inclusion in that week's column. My phone number is 870-308-4608, my email is JamesCBoney@gmail.com, or get it to me in person or on FaceBook. Go Eagles.

New Edinburg Column For This Week: May 2

Ecclesiastes 3 ¹To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: ²A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; ³A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; ⁴A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; ⁵A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; ⁶A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; ⁷A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; ⁸A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Prayer list this week includes: Martha Jean Morgan and Libby Metcalf.

Birthdays this week include: Jacquline Huddleston (May 1), myself (May 7) and Tina Sanders (May 7). A belated happy birthday goes to Morgan Searcy (April 28).

Far ahead notice: Emmaus Baptist Church will be hosting its Vacation Bible School June 13^th through the 16^th 9am to 12pm for grades pre-K through 12^th.

I have a single topic to write about this week, and I'm going to bring this up one time only.

When I started the New Edinburg Museum roughly one year ago in memory of my father, I put something like $500 dollars of my own money into it... for example I had to deep clean that room after the students from the alternative school destroyed it, about $250 of paint, about $75 for new light bulbs, paint supplies and tools such as a new power drill that would drive into the block walls in order to hang pictures, paneling to cover the windows and make the place more secure, printer cartridges at $20 a pop, photo paper at $20 a bundle, and so on. That was my own money well spent.

Over the last couple of months, I undertook a campaign to raise money in order to keep the place financed and improve it. At first I asked for donations, and one person gave. I then spent my own time going to people with hat in hand. The results were great. Many people gave, some couldn't because of their own financial condition (which is understandable), and a tiny few flatly refused to help even though they could.

It was brought to my attention this Monday afternoon that a rumor is spreading that I'm in fact pocketing the donation money for myself. Ladies and gentlemen: if I were out to make money for myself off of this, I wouldn't start a history museum... I'd start a Razorback museum. Then I'd make thousands of dollars, have hordes of adoring friends and probably a lawsuit from UA.

Unfortunately, the museum is getting me none of the above. The answer to the rumor is “no, I'm not.” In one instance, I used part of a donation to put gas in my truck in compensation. That's it.

Normally, this rumor would be funny, except it's an example of a bigger problem that's been around at least all of my life. There is a select few around here who get things done, and there's another select few who are content to sit in the back of the store or on a church pew and criticize and spin stories on other people.

In answer to this rumor, let me make three points: 1) If you have donated money to the museum, and you think you have been wronged, then come to me, face to face, and tell me you think I'm a crook and you will be compensated more than you ever dreamed. If you have not donated or even darkened the door of that place, then it's not your business. 2) Even if I were pocketing donations, who's to say that I can't be compensated for the initial sum I invested? 3) Slander is actionable in court and I aim to make an example of the person or persons who started this for future generations. Hand on Bible. Who ever is spreading it, I advise you to stop. 

On the brighter side of things: the following items were donated over the last week: a picture of the old Carmical House (courtesy of Elaine McDougald), a picture of the branch of the Thompson family I came from (Marnell Parker), an antique whiskey bottle (Otus Clary), and Harvey St. John's checkbook (Rick St. John). The following businesses donated: Benton Funeral Home, Main Street Antiques, Bob's Barber Shop, Holt Building Supply, Word's Clothes, A-1 Motors, Russell Car Dealership, and Fordyce Floral & Gifts. The following individuals donated: Otus Clary, Jim Reaves, John L. and Sue McClellan, Joe Watson in memory of my father, and Barbara Finley in memory of her mother Gladys Attwood McManus. Thank you.

Okay, next week's column will have nothing to do with the museum. Promise. Get what you want in it; if you have items of interest or upcoming news, share it with me before 5pm Monday in order to get it in that week's paper. Go Eagles.