Ceremony to Honor Twins Millie-Christine
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r-BEZ8PMGQBDLOFUUFSTLOPDLPĒ4#)4UPHSBC8BDDBNBX MFBEr&BTU#MBEFOHSPVOEBUUBDLTVCEVFT8PMGQBDL r4UBMMJPOTSPVU7JLJOHTr#FBSDBUTPWFSDPNF(BUPST r-BEZ(BUPSOFUUFSTQVUDPOGFSFODFNBSLBU Sports 4FFQBHF# ThePublished News since 1890 every Monday and Tursday forReporter the County of Columbus and her people. Monday, September 24,2012 Waterbrooke Volume 122, Number 25 facility granted Whiteville, North Carolina reprieve for now 75 Cents nWaterbrooke Assisted Living facili- ty granted restraining order in forced removal of residents and license sus- Inside Today pension, but many leave. 2-A By NICOLE CARTRETTE r8BUFSUBQEJTDPVOUT Staff Writer FOE0DU Friday morning, Sept. 21, Jessie Cooper, 78, of Conway, S.C. and a family friend were pack- ing up her son’s belongings at Waterbrooke Assisted Living Facility in Tabor City. He had been unexpectedly moved to another facility the night before. The widow of a sharecropper had cared for her son at home as long as she could and in De- cember of 2011 the facility became his home. See Waterbrooke, page 3-A Today’s Waterbrooke American Profle Staff photo by Mark Gilchrist residents caused features “Powers Music appreciation Boothe.” Te vet- Addison Grant of Evergreen enjoys the Live After Five concert at Vineland Station in Whiteville numerous calls eran actor comes on Thursday evening as people dance to The Shakers. Holding Addison is grandmother Crystal John- strong in new ABC- son as Anna Johnson watches. to Tabor police TV series ‘Nashville.’ By BOB HIGH Aging fnancial Hutchens leaving Staff Writer DIDYOB? Residents of Waterbrooke Assisted Living Did you observe ... in Tabor City were the subjects of numer- situation is ‘tight’ Whiteville chamber ous calls for police to go the facility along By NICOLE CARTRETTE By JEFFERSON WEAVER Elizabeth Street ovre the past year. The calls Dr. Sam Wheat- ranged from attempted suicides and thefts to Staff Writer Staff Writer ley starting the numerous assaults. Wrightsville Beach Columbus County Department of Aging officials told Interim chamber leader Kim Hutchens will leave Tabor City Police Chief Donald Dowless commissioners recently that financially the department the post this week for a new job in Kinston. said Friday the residents of Waterbrooke – or- Triathlon swim with came out ahead in July with revenues of about $8,000 over Hutchens was tapped as interim director after Mary dered closed by state health officials – caused his Crocs sandals expenses. Lee Eveleigh Hudson abruptly resigned earlier this many problems during the past year. It is not exactly the turnaround officials had hoped for summer. Hudson replaced longtime chamber director State and county social service workers on? ... Kate Carter but they remain confident they can reverse two years of Janice Young. were given a stack of criminal reports – hosting the White- losses. Although he was named interim director, many in reports they requested – as they moved in Deputy Director Amanda Jernigan said the collection the community hoped Hutchens would take the job See Police calls, page 4-A ville First Baptist rate of 98 to 98.5 percent for billing remained strong. permanently. A former vice president with Waccamaw Chuch youth at her “We are still getting in money from previous months’ Bank, Hutchens had previously served with the Lee home and building billings,” Jernigan said. County Chamber. “At the end of last year we were in the red,” Jernigan He said he hates leaving Whiteville, especially since a really hot fre for said of losses that totaled about $200,000 – less than half the community and chamber work so closely together. Tree weeks the youngsters to of losses experienced in 2010. “This is an excellent opportunity,” he said. “All Jernigan said pay raises to take effect on Oct. 1 could things happen for a reason. When it became evident I roast their hot dogs impact the overall financial picture but she couldn’t say wouldn’t be employed at the bank anymore, the cham- lef for voters on? ... Dogwood to what extent. ber came calling, and I was happy to answer. Whiteville “I haven’t had a chance to look at it,” she told commis- is a special place, and I have enjoyed working for the leaves beginning to sioners. chamber.” turn red? ... Joggers, Jernigan said increased rates for certain services going Hutchens will lead the human resources depart- to register into effect Jan. 1 would have a positive impact. ment at Lenoir Community College in Kinston. The walkers and cyclists “That will help us out,” Jernigan said, but she did not post is a continuation of a career that has focused on nNew voter numbers continue to rise. enjoying cool eve- yet know what the rate would be. HR work, from his time with Granite Falls Bank and Cutting holiday benefits, travel expenses and pay 8 later, Waccamaw. By JEFFERSON WEAVER ning workouts? ... percent for all Aging employees helped curb losses at the I am going to miss this place and this chamber,” Staff Writer Dean Lewis stopped department last year, officials said. he said. “People have been more than willing to offer While personal care services (PCS) has about half the constructive criticism—and I don’t mean complaining. Registration cards are going across the desk at three checkpoints number of clients they had anticipated, the community They will offer ideas on how they think things can be at the Columbus County Board of Elections at for seatbelts? He alternatives program has gained more than expected, better. You need that type of feedback. I enjoyed meet- a record pace. Jernigan said. ing the people I have had the chance to spend time with, Supervisor Carla Strickland said Friday was wearing his at PCS has 57 clients. and I just regret I didn’t get to meet and interact with the county will likely top 37,000 registered each one. ... “We were hoping for 92,” Jernigan told the board. “We more of them.” voters by the first of this week. There were are still not where we really need to be with PCS.” The chamber keeps its executive director busy, 36,914 registered voters Friday afternoon, and “It sounds tight,” Columbus County Board Chairman See Hutchins, page 2-A See Voters, page 3-A Amon McKenzie said. “We need to monitor it.” County Deaths Evergreen Horace McRoy Bass Ceremony to honor twins Millie-Christine Clarendon By RAY WYCHE “Come, Ye Disconsolate,” one of the twins’ favorite tion of the state Department of Archives and His- Elbert Royce Norris Staff Writer hymns, plus one of the many poems that she com- tory, to the well-maintained present Welches Creek posed will be next on the program. Cemetery. Descendants of renowned conjoined twins Millie- The Rev. Larry D. McKoy of Rocky Mount, a great- A granite grave marker carrying the same in- Christine McKoy, who died in 1912, will stage a great-great nephew, will make remarks and a floral scription as the old marker was erected by the society Index remembrance ceremony at 10 a. m. Saturday, Oct. tribute will be placed on the grave. A pair of doves, and placed over the reburial site in a donated plot in &EJUPSJBMT" 13 to mark the centennial year of her death in the facing in opposite directions, will be released at this the Welches Creek Cemetery. Welches Creek community. point in the ceremony. The twins were joined by a band of flesh at a 0CJUVBSJFT" The twins were world-famous entertainers dur- A responsive reading by those attending will also point just beneath the shoulders. The question of 4QPSUT# ing the last half of the 19th century, traveling over be included in the event. The public is invited to the surgically separating the two had been discussed $SJNF" most of Europe and giving command performances ceremony. among medical people, but in those early days when -JGFTUZMFT" for royalty. Family and friends will gather at the dwelling of advancements in medical science were elementary, Millie-Christine, who referred to herself as a the late Homer McCoy, a great-great nephew, near the no one was sure what was contained within the band singular person, was born in slavery in the Welches cemetery after the graveside ceremony. of flesh connecting the two. Creek community and upon retirement returned Millie-Christine was first buried in a community Millie-Christine was noted for her singing voice, to live in the area until her death Oct. 8 and 9, 1912. cemetery near her home. A few years later, this cem- one alto and one soprano, and her above average The ceremony has been arranged by great-great- etery was no longer being used and her grave marker, intelligence. She reportedly spoke French, German great nieces Brenda Troy and Selena McKoy Rowell, made of wood covered with a lead-like metal alloy, and Russian fluently. and great-great-great nephew Wilson Spaulding. was partly destroyed in a forest fire. Despite have two distinct personalities (Millie The remembrance ceremony will begin at the In the early 1970s, the now-defunct Columbus was the more outspoken of the two), the twins got grave of the twins in the Welches Creek Cemetery County Historic Society undertook as a project the along well with each other and were in agreement off Millie-Christine Road with a welcome from placing of a state roadside historical marker beside on most issues. Her gravestone reads, “Two hearts 91-year-old Fred P. McKoy, Jr., a great-great nephew old Highway 74-76 designating the nearby gravesite. of the twins. Work began on relocating the grave, under the direc- See Twins, page 2-A 2-A – The News Reporter, Monday, September 24, 2012 This week, on... September 24, 2012 Whiteville.com Biser Ball Sports Trivia Question #156: Who were the coaches of West Co- lumbus High School’s boys state championship track and feld teams of 1991 and 1992? Answer: Find the answer today, at Whiteville.com, in our Sports Section.