ERHS class of 1966
The East Rowan High School class of 1966 celebrated its forty-fifth anniversary with a social hour and dinner buffet at the Holiday Inn on Saturday, Oct. 29. Johnny Cozart served as master of ceremonies. Approximately 88 classmates and guests attended the event which included two former teachers as special guests, Jean McCombs and Rachel Safrit.
Following dinner Randy Sifford ledthe memorial time with a moment of silence, read a poem and explained that all donations to the memorial fund totaling $555 would go to the East Rowan Bible Commission in support of the Bible History Course.
Johnny Cozart and Bill Fortune awarded door prizes with all classmates receiving at least one prize. Joe Hayes was recognized for traveling the farthest (Marietta, Ga.), Linda Hill Cauble for having the most grandchildren (9), Vickie Jo Montgomery Reavis for being married the longest (45 years) and Rita Lentz Bigham, James Shoaf and Larry Wyatt for having earned three higher education degrees.
Following the prizes, everyone enjoyed socializing with one another and dancing to the music provided by deejay Butch Mattox. A display table featured memorabilia from our senior year.
The following classmates served on the reunion planning committee: Bill Fortune, chair; Jan Powell Morris, secretary; Randy Sifford, treasurer; Brenda and Linda HillCauble, Johnny Cozart, Saundra Kluttz Fesperman, Billy and Paula Haynes, Tommy Hill, Denny Holshouser,Jerry Lambert, Patricia Kirk Morgan, Robert ěGordyî Peeler and Darlene Ketchie Smith.
Classmates attending were: Brenda Brown Basinger, Susan Brown Cannon, Johnny Cozart, Linda Crowe Miller, Reba Deal Drennan, Robert Dry, L.A. Earnhardt, Sue Fortune Dockery, Saundra Kluttz Fesperman, Bill Fortune, Charles Frick, Martha Goodman Kluttz, Susan Hartman Loflin, Joe Hayes, Brenda Hill Cauble, Linda Hill Cauble, Tom Hill, Dennis Holshouser, Sue Ketchie Harvell, Bill and Paula Kepley Haynes, Patricia Ann Kirk Morgan, Jerry Lambert, Rita Lentz Bigham, Sue Lingle Wall, Bobby Lowman, Donald Ludwig, Larry Lyerly, Vicky Jo Montgomery Reavis, Deena Morgan Lanning, Eddie Morgan, Rickie Peeler Price, Robert Peeler, Betty Phillips Young, Jan Powell Morris, Mike Reavis, Rick Ridenhour, Bill and Bonnie Benson Shaw, James Shoaf, Randy Sifford, Darlene Ketchie Smith, Roger Steadman, Larry Waggoner, Larry Wyatt, Phyllis Yarbrough Trexler and Martha Yost Yates-Bolmon.
Carolina Artists awards
The Janet D. Isenhour Scholarship is an annual grant available to member(s) of The Carolina Artists guild who show outstanding talent in their respective media. Bill and Celeste Ward, local award-winning husband and wife photographers, were the recipients of the award this year.
The grant was used for the Wards to attend the ěOne to Grow Onî training and trade show presented by the Professional Photographers of America held in Raleigh on Oct. 17. This all-day and evening event covered photographic lighting techniques, software enhancement capabilitiess, tips and demonstrations on new digital technology and equipment, a seminar on How to Market Your Photography/Artwork, and a national vendor trade show. Much valuable information was packed into the day. And several vendor referrals are providing a basis for The Carolina Artists to consider presenting a new Photo EXPO in 2012. Bill Ward is chairing this project.
The Carolina Artists organization, in conjunction with the Salisbury Civic Center, currently presents two annual shows: The Carolina Artists multi-media EXPO (for adults 18 years and older) where Bill recently took first place in photography and Celeste took third place; and the Student EXPO for Rowan County students in grades K-12.
Also look for The Carolina Artists membersí booths in the lobby of the Maroney Theatre during Salisburyís Holiday Night Out on Nov. 25.
Earnhardt reunion
Descendants of the Henry Milas and Josephine Hopkins Earnhardt family met on Sunday, Oct. 30, for their ninth Earnhardt reunion at Union Lutheran Church on Bringle Ferry Road. More than 100 family members attended.
The Earnhardts lived in the Dunns Mountain and Crystal Lake areas. Their children were Hettie Bell Earnhardt Allman, Della Earnhardt Wyatt, James David Earnhardt, Charlie Edward Earnhardt, Samuel Council Earnhardt, Lillie Myrtle Earnhardt Hartman, John Henry Earnhardt and Dock Earnhardt. The oldest living descendant is Elizabeth Weaver Rufty of the Hettie Bell Earnhardt family.
Reunion coordinators Amy LoRae Earnhardt, descendant of Charlie Edward Earnhardt and Jan Weaver Pruette of Hettie Bell Earnhardt welcomed everyone to the reunion. Roland Langley of Lexington (Hettie Bell Earnhardt) gave the blessing before the covered dish lunch.
There was a table display of framed pictures of Milas and Josephine Earnhardt as well as reunion pictures, newspaper articles and old photographs. Framed photos were placed on the table in memory of the family members who had passed away since the last reunion. Fall arrangements decorated the dining area.
Deaths since the last reunion were Robert Lee Earnhardt (Charlie Edward Earnhardt), framed photographs presented to his sons, Gary Lee Earnhardt and Ronald Edward Earnhardt; Doris Earnhardt Spry (Samuel Council Earnhardt), framed photos given to her son Laverne Spry and a special niece, Vicki Earnhardt; and Jimmy Agner, husband of Kathleen Oddie (Samuel Council Earnhardt), a framed treasure given to his wife. Births since our last yearís reunion were Jerry Earl Earnhardt (Samuel Council Earnhardt) and Khamorri Bentley (Lillie Myrtle Earnhardt).
There has been one marriage since the last reunion, Stephanie Earnhardt (Samuel Council Earnhardt) and Josh Atwell.
Fall harvest baskets were presented to the oldest descendants present: Elizabeth Rufty Weaver, 91, of Salisbury (Hettie Bell Earnhardt) and James Adam Earnhardt, 90, also of Salisbury (Samuel Council Earnhardt).
Gold coins were given to the youngest descendants: Jerry Earl Earnhardt, Leeland Scoot Earnhardt and Eli Earnhardt (Samuel Council Earnhardt); Khamorri Bently and Abram Givens (Lillie Myrtle Earnhardt); and Lucas Gobble (Charlie Edward Earnhardt).
James Adam and Jean Bost Earnhardt were the longest married couple of 69 years.
The Samuel Council Earnhardt family had the most descendants present.
Lucky, Laura, Tommy and Lucas Gobble of South Carolina (Charlie Edward Earnhardt) and Sharon and Boyce Phillips of West Virginia (Hettie Bell Earnhardt) traveled the farthest.
Family members and guests attended from Salisbury, Lexington, Spencer, Rockwell, Charlotte, Gold Hill, China Grove, Kannapolis, Faith, Morven, Granite Quarry, Southmont, W.Va., and South Carolina.
Toastmasters
Salisburyís Community Toastmaster club, People Growing Together, held their Fall Humorous Speech and Evaluation contest.
Representing Salisbury in the area contest were members Ken Anderson from Piedmont Natural Gas in the Evaluation contest and Helen Weddington, from Rowan Family Crisis Council in the Humorous Speech contest.
People Growing Together Toastmasters meets 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays at the J.F. Hurley YMCA Boardroom, 828 Jake Alexander Blvd. Guests are welcome and membership is open to the public. Contact Tim Edwards at 704-431-9390 or Curtis Treece at 704-433-7878.
Kneeling Gardeners
KANNAPOLIS ó Dr. Ivette Guzman met with Kneeling Gardeners on Monday, Oct. 24, at Trinity Methodist Church. Guzman, who completed a Ph.D. in Plant and Environmental Sciences and works as a Postdoctoral Research Associate for NC State Universityís Plants for Human Health Institute at the NCRC, spoke on ěTalking Plants,î the effects of plants on both people and the environment.
The club will meet again at the church, 416 East First St., on Nov. 28 for a program about holiday decorating ideas. Anyone interested is invited. For details, call 704-933-1127.
Trinity Oaks fair
The activity department of Trinity Oaks Retirement Community held an Old Country Fair day in September for their residents and guests. The day was filled with popcorn, peanuts, soft drinks, funnel cakes, cotton candy, cider, lemonade and ice cream, all for the old fashioned price of ten cents. Proceeds went to the United Way of Rowan County.
A balloonist was on hand to make balloon figures, Princess and Me jewelry gave a percentage of their sales to United Way, and a long table of cakes, pies, brownies and cookies, many made by the residents themselves, was also a big hit with donations to UW.
Residents and staff displayed quilts, embroidery, cross stitch and antique items, woodwork and more.
Music filled the special events room with Paul Hill aa nd his wife Lena performing on guitar and piano with vocals; James Castle, Randy Messic and friends with banjo, guitars and vocals; and shaggers Karen and Stan McConnell plus Jenny and steve Jones sharing their dancing experiences and teaching some of the residents how to shag.