December 16 Edition

"Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born tonight in Berhlehem!" - Luke 2:10-11

Birthdays this week include: Jamie Thompson and Daymon Parker - Dec. 16, Betty Green and Raymond Brown - Dec. 20, Willie Rainey and Steven Rawls - Dec. 21, Lou Green - Dec. 22.

Happy anniversary to: Rita and Phillip Lasiter and Gene and Joyce Briant - Dec. 17, Suzi and Zeb Beard - Dec. 18, Cecil and Geraldine Sanders - Dec. 20.

Here we are zeroing in on another Christmas.  Santa Claus will drop in on the West Saline Community center this Saturday afternoon from 2-4pm.  That's in the old school building, so bring your kids by to meet that jolly old elf.

Jerry Langford resigned as president and from the board of the West Saline Community Center last week. New elections were held last Sunday with Nikki Warner elected as President, Willie Rainey re-installed as Vice-President, and LaVetrice Gill as Secretary. Congratulations to all.

New Edinburg Community Center's potluck last Saturday, though light in numbers, had an excellent spread and good conversation and fellowship.  Melody Spears announced that the winner of NECC's 2013 Community Volunteer of the Year was Bob Chambers, and she awarded a memorial plaque to the family of the late Joe Bryant.

Everyone have a great Christmas and we'll see you then. Go Eagles.

Dec. 9 Edition

"Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust me."--- John 14:1 Living Bible

Birthdays this week include: Donnie Knight - Dec. 9, Marilyn Rawls - Dec. 12, Sara Huddleston Hannah - Dec. 14, and Danny Nelson - Dec. 15.

Well, we all survived the first ice storm of this season with no loss of power or life.

Last week I forgot to announce the birth of Ry'Lee Morgan Davis, the daughter of Termekia Smith.  Welcome to New Edinburg, Ry'Lee. I look forward to seeing you grow up.

Marvin and Betty King, along with Lorene (King) Baswell donated a picture of the NEHS class of 1952 to the West Saline Community Center this past weekend and I put it in place in the cafeteria.  That's one more down toward making the collection complete again.

One passing thought about the late Larry Clements, and it touches into town history: in the 1970s, some of the high school students would indulge in the fine art of wrapping the town on Halloween night.  Now for you younger folk reading this, that means the next morning, downtown New Edinburg looked like a toilet paper cathedral.  It was really sort of pretty.

Larry was one of the main cats in that game, and I know this because my Dad told me once he met Larry at Ray Estes' station the following morning, and Larry still had the cardboard box from which the paper rolls came in the back of his truck.  My Dad told him "Son, you better get rid of that box real fast before Lee Linzy sees it." Of course, Larry couldn't have cared less.

Another thing I remember about Larry: he was one of the senior high school boys who would harass the elementary school boys.  Now, none of them did anything mean or hurtful, but Larry loved to catch us in the boys room and hold us in so that we would be late getting back to class... and you remember those days... it was no excuses. A few other high school boys indulged in that game too, but since some of them are now pillars of the community, I'll refrain from naming names...

Larry was an unmitigated clown, prankster, joker, and all-around good guy.  I'm glad I knew him. Go Eagles.

Dec. 3 Edition

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." - Isaiah 54:17

Birthdays this week include: Henry Jones - December 2, Jim Hearnsberger - December 3, Logan Sanders and Theresa Huddleston - December 6, Freda Green and Jean Warner - December 8.

Happy anniversary to Ronnie and Joanna McClellan - December 6.

Here we are into December and the end of 2013.  The year went fast. The weatherman is predicting some freezing rain for the end of this week, so everyone please be careful.

We Eagles are saddened at the death last week of Larry Clements.  He will be missed.

Mrs. Norma McCoy reports: "It has been said "can we have too many get-togethers"?  Our answer is no, so once again the class of '57 along with family/friends met on November 21, '13 at the camp/cabin of John L. McClellan.  Realizing not everyone would find it possible to attend but for those who could (and did) had such a wonderful time.  Stories of days gone by shared over some tasty food and a game of Dominos will long be remembered!  Those in attendance were: Simone St.John Black and son Mark Black, Mongolia Erwin Beck of Sheridan; Ollie Faye Rice Harris of Cabot; Joe and Kay Mosley Simmons, James and Jean Atkins of Little Rock; Marnelle Norton Clement of Pine Bluff; Bertia Mae McClellan Lassiter of Warren; Sarah Lisemby Rowland and Martha Hamaker Cook of Kingsland; John L. McClellan, Tully and Norma Faye Reaves McCoy, William "Bill" Watts, Henry and Rachel McClellan Jones of New Edinburg.  Until we meet again may we continue to hold those we love close to heart and cherish our many memories.  We have truly been blessed!"

The Christmas open house tour has two homes signed up so far, but needs more. Contact Melody Spears if you're interested.  The proceeds of the tour go to replace bulbs in the Christmas lights. If you want to make a straight donation, send your donations to NECC at PO Box 23, New Edinburg, Ar. 71660 and please designate it for Christmas lights. 

The White Mustang Band will be performing for a fund raiser for Paul and Doris Jankowski at the New Edinburg Community Center on December 6, 2013 from 8:00 pm till 11:00 pm. Admission is $6.00. No Alcohol Allowed. Paul is in Baptist Hospital now. He suffered a stroke a few days ago, after having 4 surgeries recently.  Come out and enjoy the great music of the White Mustang Band.

If you have items of interest for this column, feel free to get them to me before Monday.    Go Eagles.

Turkey Day Edition

"²⁸ Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: ²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:28-29

Prayer list this week includes the family of Charles Bowden.

Birthdays this week include: Jim Thompson - Nov. 25, Kenny Thompson - Nov. 27,, Evelyn Norris - Nov. 29,  Jason McClellan, Beth McLain, Francis Parker, and Keith Grice - Nov. 30.

Happy anniversary to Tony and Martha Atkins - Nov. 23.

We hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and enjoys the colder weather.  It's finally here.

The Christmas open house tour has two homes signed up so far, but needs more. Contact Melody Spears if you're interested.  The proceeds of the tour go to replace bulbs in the Christmas lights. If you want to make a straight donation, send your donations to NECC at PO Box 23, New Edinburg, Ar. 71660 and please designate it for Christmas lights. 

The White Mustang Band will be performing for a fund raiser for Paul and Doris Jankowski at the New Edinburg Community Center on December 6, 2013 from 8:00 pm till 11:00 pm. Admission is $6.00. No Alcohol Allowed. Paul is in Baptist Hospital now. He suffered a stroke a few days ago, after having 4 surgeries recently.  Come out and enjoy the great music of the White Mustang Band.

A couple of excerpts from the school scrapbook of Mary Langford... first a news article she cut out and saved: 

"Agri Students Set Out 6,000 Cuttings: Have New Site . The New Edinburg F. F. A. chapter members have recently plowed their nursery and set out 6,000 cuttings. They have also selected another site for their nursery this years. The nursery occupies about an acre. They have several varieties of cuttings, including grapes. Approximately 1,000 shrubs were left from last year's nursery. The boys plan to sell the shrubs and use them in landscaping the campus. Last week the F. F. A. members put in all their agriculture time setting out shrubs around the school

building. Members of the Future Home Makers chapter are bringing in shrubs to be set out. A trailer will be used to haul shrubs to the school which are too large to bring on the school buses. The boys are instructed in how to dig up and care for the shrubs. The appearance of the school campus is expected to be improved greatly due to the efforts being put forth in planting shrubs. The F. F. A members have recently completed a furniture project in which people of the community brought in their old furniture and the students remodeled it. The F. H. M. members assisted with the upholstering."

Second, and most touching, is her dedication page in the book: "I was presented with this beautiful book on the day October 12, 1939, as a gift from Mr. Smith, an invitation salesman. He gave it to the class and we drew numbers for it, and imagine me as the lucky girl! I never dreamed of being the owner of such a beautiful book!

Hereby, I make a resolution to fill it out during the Senior year and to keep it always to remember with pleasure my last year in “good old New Edinburg High School,” which, I hope will be a happy one."

If you have items of interest for this column, feel free to get them to me before Monday.    Go Eagles.

November 11 Edition

Romans 6:23 " For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Birthdays this week include: Nov. 11 - Joyce Briant, Nov. 12 - Peg Cole, Harvey Splawn, Janice Rainey, Nov. 14 - LaTonya Jackson, Nov. 15 - Jim Snyder, Nov. 16 - Gloria Llanes, Kim Briant and Frank Martin, Nov. 17 - Toby Johnson.  Happy anniversary to Christopher and LaTonya Jackson last Nov. 4, Will and Rachel Reaves on Nov. 7, and Ted and Catherine Langford on Nov. 12.

The Christmas open house tour has two homes signed up so far, but needs more. Contact Melody Spears if you're interested.  The proceeds of the tour go to replace bulbs in the Christmas lights which will be up before you know it. If you want to make a straight donation, send your donations to NECC at PO Box 23, New Edinburg, Ar. 71660 and please designate it for Christmas lights. 

Huey Lodge #78 will have its annual Chili Supper Saturday November 16 from 4pm until the last person is served.  The price is $7 per person and includes chili or soup and a dessert and drink.

If you have items of interest for this column, feel free to get them to me before Monday.    Go Eagles.