Wheless and Wheless, law firm from Dare County, renovates the old drugstore building at the corner of Main & Broad and opens a law practice in Columbia.
Former Sheriff, Darryl Liverman, beats out Deputy J.D. Etheridge as the democratic nominee for Tyrrell County sheriff in the May Democratic Primary.
Tyrrell County Board of Education votes to require school uniforms for the upcoming 2006/2007 school year.
May 14th tornados damage trees and homes just south of Columbia near NC 94.
Aaron Manning, son of Bill and Marsha Manning, wins the prestigous 2006 Morehead Scholarship.
Sheriff Fred Hemilright announces his retirement from office effective August 1st due to health concerns.
Darryl Liverman appointed by commissioners to fill the unexpired term of Fred Hemilright as sheriff of Tyrrell County.
Jill James Spencer of Columbia promoted to postmaster of the Fairfield Post Office.
Hurrican Ernesto dumps lots of rain on the county but thankfully does little in the way of damage.
Recent Tyrrell County school personel to retire: Ersclene Rogers, Anna Jean Ward, and Patty Higgins Spruill. (Congratulations to all)
Tyrrell County EMS purchased a new ambulance culminating a five year fundraising effort.
Pocosin Arts Folk School officially opens in their newly renovated space in the old Davis Coffield Building on Main Street in Columbia.
Former Washington County deputy sheriff and Roper Police Chief, Kennedy Barber is the new Tyrrell County School Resource Officer.
Local crabber and seafood business owner, Willy Phillips, survives boat explosion and fire which hospitalized with thankfully minor injuries.
WHAT A DAY!!!!! SCUPPERNONG RIVER FESTIVAL 2006!!!!!
The 15th Annual Scuppernong River Festival was held on October 7th and what a day it was. It can only be described as absolutely perfect weather ... blue Carolina skies and fall-like temperatures made for a great festival. The day started off with one of the largest parades we have had since I have been emceeing the event. Several marching bands (Columbia, First Flight, Jamesville, and Beargrass) did a great job, motorcycle clubs, representatives from 6-7 local fire and ems departments, antique tractors, and much more made for a great parade. There were many food vendors representing many varieties of food from seafood and chicken, to asian and mexican. There were many local musicians representing genres such as gospel, southern rock, country, folk, pop, and much more. Some of the local muscians that participated were The Blackwater Band, Vickie Waters, Matt Reynolds, Jonathan Waters, Jake Brickhouse, Chris Gibbs, Pamlico Joe, The Washington County Male Chorus, The Sandy Bottom Boys, Albemarle Sounds Quartet, Sons Of God, and Dragon Fly 131. There were also many arts and craft vendors and amusements rides for the kids. As darkness fell, the crowd was treated to a spectacular fireworks display and the evening ended with a street dance featuring "Avalance", a high energy classic and country rock band that includes local muscian, Jeff Howett. What a great day walking the streets of Columbia, seeing old friends and enjoying the sights & sounds of the festival.
Ingrid Lemme took some photos of the festival and was kind enough to share them on the Internet. If you would like to see these scenes from Scuppernong Festival 2006, click on the following link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g49045-c7345/Columbia:North-Carolina:Scuppernong.River.Festival.2006..html.
POCOSIN ARTS 9TH ANNUAL CRAB DINNER AND ART AUCTION FUND RAISER
The Steamed Blue to Red-Hot, Lively! Hard Crab Dinner & Art Auction was held Saturday, September 16th. Pocosin Arts has held this fund raising event the third Saturday in September since 1998. The annual art auction is timed to coincide with the Albemarle Sound's height of the season hard crab harvest. There was a large crowd of folks who enjoyed the heavy hors'doeuvres and a meal of fresh local crabs, a cash bar with wines and beers, the art auction, and finally the evening ended with Cajun music provided by the group, Unknown Tongues. The event began at 6pm and ended about 10:30 pm. It was a picture perfect afternoon and evening on the Columbia waterfront with light breezes and autumn temperatures. The event was marked by the absence of Feather and Willie this year. Willie was injured in a boat explosion the day before the auction and was in Pitt Hospital. Luckily we learned that his injuries were not as severe as first suspected and he and Feather should be home by Monday. Feather should be proud of all the volunteers who worked so hard to bring off the event without a hitch. Think about coming out next year, you'll be glad you did.
RECENT AREA OBITUARIES
ROBERT EDWARD "BOBBY" WEST, 71, of Creswell died September 26,2006 in Edenton. Bobby West was born in Tyrrell County on July 7, 1935 and was the son of the late William and Agnes West. He was a painter and a fine musician (playing guitar, banjo, and mandolin that I know of) whom I had the pleasure to accompany on more than one occassion. He was married to Corrine Cooper West who survives. He is also survived by four daughters: Amanda Williams, Norma West, Kim West, & Janet Yancey; two sons: Randy and Curtis West; one sister: Daliah Carawan; and one brother: Marvin West. He was preceded in death by two sisters: Augusta White and Dorothy Cooper; and four brothers: Herman, Lawrence, Archie, and Acie West. Burial was in the West Family Cemetery in the Crosslanding Community of Tyrrell County. You can hear Bobby singing a song that was written by him on the Pocosin Jam CD mentioned above.
LORETTA MIDGETT FURLOUGH, 58, of Rougemont, NC died September 30, 2006 in Durham Hospital after a struggle with ALS. She was born in Tyrrell County and was the daughter of the late Robert E. and Ina Basnight Midgett. She is survived by her husband: Mitchell Furlough; two daughters: Stacey Shaffer and Tracey Cullison; two sons: Chris and Michael Furlough; one step-daughter: Jeana Furlough; and one brother: Garland "Bud" Midgett. Burial was in Hillside Memorial Gardens in Plymouth.
MELVIN CLAUD ROSE SR, 70, of Columbia died September 12, 2006. He was born in Tyrrell County on July 26, 1936 and was the son of the late Johnnie and Dezzie Armstrong Rose. He is survived by his wife: Mary S. Rose; one daughter: Karen R. Simmons; two sons: Melvin C. Rose Jr and Mark A. Rose; two sisters: Gretchen Watson and Virgie Bateman; and one brother: Jack D. Rose. Burial was in Azalea Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
EVA MAE BROWN BASNIGHT, 88, of the Gum Neck community died September 4, 2006. She was born in Tyrrell County on January 7, 1918 and was the daughter of the late Gussie P. and George W. Brown. She is survived by four sons: George L., Herman R., Arnold L., and Ervin Basnight; five daughters: Louella Bethea, Dalla F. Basnight, Mary L. Bowser, Vergie Carter, and Jean Wiltshire; three brothers: Charlie W. Brown, Dr. George Brown, and Robert L. Brown; and three sisters: Bessie Mizzell, Lucy Barrow, and Dr. Christina. Burial was in the Mt Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.
MELVIN LEE DEAVER, 61, of the Newlands community died August 13, 2006 as the result of a traffic accident. He was born in Tyrrell County on August 14, 1944 and was the son of the late Gordon Albert and Virginia Albert Deaver. He is survived by four sisters: Donna Stewart, Jean Walker, Sue Roughton, and Nancy Roughton; and seven brothers: Paul, Michael, Gordon, Robert, Allen, Ray, and Danny Deaver. He was preceded in death by one brother: Charles Deaver and two sisters: Ann Willoughby and Fay Bateman. Burial was in Azalea Memorial Gardens.
ROBERT OAKLEY VOLIVA, 92, of Tyrrell County died July 29, 2006. He was born in Tyrrell County on June 4, 1914 and was the son of the late Roland and Minnie Spencer Voliva. He was preceded in death by his wife: Jesse Gertrude Voliva; two brothers: William Lee and Burvil Voliva; and two sisters: Hazel Mitchum and Burl Jones. He is survived by three sons: David, Wayne, and Gary Voliva; and two brothers: J.C. and Lois Voliva. Burial was in Azalea Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
MACON GARFIELD SEXTON, 78, of the Scuppernong community died July 23, 2006. He was born in Hyde County on August 1, 1927 and was the son of the late Charlie G. and Belle Dunbar Sexton. He is survived by a sister: Edna Sexton Cahoon. Burial was in Hillside Memorial Garden Cemetery in Plymouth.
KATHRYN HOLLIS EVERETT, 83, of Columbia died July 12, 2006. She was born in Tyrrell County on April 7, 1923 and was the daughter of the late William Alfred and Ida Brickhouse Hollis. She was preceded in death by her husband: John Wilson Everett. She is survived by two sons: John T. and Nathan T. Everett. She was preceded in death by one brother: Floyd William Hollis. Burial was in Sound Side Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery.
LILLIAN ALINE SWAIN, 96, of Dillon's Ridge in Tyrrell County died July 9, 2006. She was born in Tyrrell County on November 17, 1909 and was the daughter of the late William Thomas and Bernie Davenport Swain.
CHARLES WALLACE SNELL, 84,of Greenville and formerly of Columbia died June 16, 2006. He was born in Tyrrell County and was the son of the late Charles Wallace and Eva Woodard Snell. He was preceded in death by his wife: Roberta Stevenson Snell. Survivors include a daughter: Margie S. Connolly; one brother: Jacob Snell; and two sisters: Pattie Spear and Peggy Matthews. Burial was in Oakdale Cemetery in Washington, NC.
WILLIE WEBSTER DAVENPORT, 83, of US 64 East near Columbia died May 16, 2006. He was born in Tyrrell County on November 22, 1922 and was the son of the late Alfred and Frances Twiddy Davenport. He was preceded in death by a daughter: Fran Aziere, sons: Richard and Robert Davenport, sister: Esther Perry, and brother: Ben Davenport. He is survived by his wife: Betty Ball Davenport; daughters: Peggy Keeter, Harriet Jones, Bernice Kitts, and Sue McKimmey; sons: Billy and Jack Davenport; sister: Margie Rice; and brothers: LA Davenport, Buddy Davenport, and James Davenport. Burial was at Azalea Memorial Gardens.
HERLON WARD LASSITER, 84, of Norfolk and formerly of Columbia died June 2, 2006. She was born on February 13, 1922 in Tyrrell County and was the daughter of the late Lewis and Clara Belle Gibbs Ward. She was married to the late Louis G. Lassiter. She is survived by a brother: Keith Ward; a daughter: Deborah Susie Gregory; two sons: Lewis and Wayne Lassiter; and several grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one sister: Hilda W. Walker and one brother: Grady A. Ward. Burial was in Albemarle Church of Christ Cemetery.
PATRICIA FOX LITCHFIELD, 71, of the River Neck community died June 2, 2006. She was born December 24, 1935 and was the daughter of the late Margaret Sutton. She is survived by her husband: Henry Elloyd Litchfield; and two sons: Robert Eric & William Mark Litchfield. She was preceded in death by one son: Henry Elloyd Litchfield Jr. Burial was in Azalea Memorial Gardens.