Rockwell High School Class of 1950 

Submitted

The Rockwell High School Class of 1950 celebrated its 65th reunion Sept. 11, at Blue Bay Seafood Restaurant in Salisbury with 18 class members and 11 guests present.

President Norman File welcomed everyone and remembered those we lost since the last reunion: Carol Odell, Frankie Eller Puckett, Margi Hopkins Sides and Hugh Fisher.

Norman and others shared information about class members who were sick and unable to attend. He welcomed our special teacher Jean McCombs. After the blessing everyone enjoyed a wonderful meal.

Norman also provided entertainment for the group. He and other shared stories and experiences of our times together at Rockwell High.

It was decided to have next year’s reunion at Blue Bay.

Those attending included Peggy Troutman, Gail Troutman, Frances Hand, Ernest and Judy Hoffner, Virginia Alexander, Kerry Sivula, Peggy Daniel, Theta June Dennis, Betty Morgan, Norman File, Martha and Lonzo Arey, Pete Connor, Harold Earnhardt, Lee and Sue Beaver, Bill and Beth Lyerly, Eula Mae Artz, Eva Millsaps, Claire Haitt, Jake and Betty Rose Setzer, Angelo Wagoner, Johnny Arey, Jim Wagoner, Martha Salerno and Jean McCombs.

The planning committee for the reunion included Norman File, Betty Rose Setzer, Martha Arey and Betty Morgan.

 

South Rowan High School Class of 1962 

Submitted

The South Rowan High School Class of 1962 celebrated its 53rd reunion on Sept. 19 at the Club at Irish Creek in Kannapolis. Following the social hour, Dr. Frank Martin welcomed the group.

Wayne Spears gave the invocation. After the meal, a memorial service to remember the 43 classmates lost by death was presented by Modena McCreary Weaver and Dickey Menius.

Patsy Hudson Parnell recognized special guests for the evening, former English teacher Mrs. Jane Faggart and husband, J. B. Faggart. Brenda Walters Welch read responses from classmates that were unable to attend. Wayne Spears led discussion on the next reunion. Door prizes, donated by classmate, Ralph Baker, were awarded to winners of the Remember When contest and the Reunion Superlatives.

Classmates were presented with directories prepared by Pam Turner Martin. The evening concluded with the class enjoying music, dancing, and a photo booth provided by Virtual Sounds.

 

Rockwell High School Class of 1959

Submitted

On Saturday, Sept. 26, the Rockwell High School Class of 1959 held its 56th reunion at the fellowship hall of Organ Lutheran Church which was decorated with pumpkins and fall foliage by classmate, Christine Bame Graham. Forty two persons attended, of which 26 were classmates.

A fellowship hour which included appetizers and punch prepared by classmate Ann Brown Miller, preceded a buffet dinner served by Debbie Suggs Catering. The Rev. David Huddle gave the invocation.

Following dinner John N. Trexler presented a program of comic relief which encouraged the group to remember the good times of 56 years ago, but also to enjoy our lives today as we “age gracefully.” We were reminded that it is important that we “not forget each other” and always remember how unique our class group is since we were the last class to graduate from Rockwell High School.

Carolyn Cauble Hartung read a poem as the group remembered classmates Karen Bostian Watkins and Gailya Fowler Kluttz, who had died during the past year. Classmates who had lost close family members were also remembered.

Get well cards were prepared for classmates and spouses unable to attend the reunion.

Door prizes were awarded and it was agreed the class would meet on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 for the 57th reunion.

The reunion planning committee was comprised of Sybil Penninger Baker, Christine Bame Graham, Ann Brown Miller, R.L. and Sandra Beaver Mills, Carolyn Cauble Hartung, Joe Freeze and Brenda Heglar Cooke.

Those attending the reunion were, from Salisbury: Charles Earnhardt, R. L. and Sandra Beaver Mills, Mary Ida Hodge Yost (Carl), Joe Freeze (Phyllis), Wayne Goodman, Sybil Penninger Baker (Bill), Carolyn Cauble Hartung, Jerry Morgan, Jimmy Shaver, Ellen Marsh (sister, Susie Wilson), Larry Shipton (Iris), Betty Sue Petrea Sifford (Jimmy);

From Gold Hill: Rachel Bost Miller (David), Dwight Morgan (Eleanor), Clara Leigh Goodman Trexler;

From Rockwell: Anis Maners Boyd (Bobby), Mickey Holshouser (Nancy), Patsy Holshouser Beliveau (George), Ann Brown Miller (Clarence),Brenda Heglar Cooke (Carroll);

From Greensboro: Christine Bame Graham (Bob); from Kannapolis: Gaynell Galloway Funderburke; from New Bern: Loy Morgan; from Indian Trail: John N. Trexler (Ruth); from Lexington, David Huddle (Pat).

 

Brown-Fisher reunion

Submitted

Members of the Brown-Fisher families met at the Old Stone House, home of the late Michael Braun/Brown, on Sept. 19 for their annual reunion. Most of the Browns attending were descendants of Michael Brown, Sr.

President Stephen Brown welcomed the 85 members and friends. Attendees enjoyed a lunch of grilled hot dogs and hamburgers with all the trimmings, prepared by board members Larry C. Brown and Sarah Z. Brown.

First time attendees were Jewell Greene, Brodie Madison, Ben Brown, Jo Anne Hall Ritchie, Nate and Franklin Ribelin, Riley and Christine Lowman, Bob Brown, Mary Brown Madsen and James and Shirley Brown.

Family with most members attending : The Ribelin family, nine members.

The most generations: The Buster Brown family with four generations.

Traveling the farthest: Franklin Ribelin of Reno, Nevada and Robert D. Brown and his sister Mary Brown Madsen of Yuma, Arizona.

The oldest attendee was John Fisher of Salisbury, 96 years old on the 19th of September. The youngest attendee was Benjamin Brook Brown, one-week-old son of Benjamin and Candace Brown.

Juanita Ladd presented Norman and Pam Ribelin their life membership pin. Life memberships now number 150. Treasurer Larry Brown explained the current treasurer’s report.

Kaye Hirst, director of the Rowan Museum, gave an update of activities of the Old Stone House. Doug Robinson, member of the Nathan Brown House Association, gave an update of the preservation of the Nathan Brown House.

Members who have served in the armed services were given flag ball point pens: Nathaniel Oscar Ribelin of Alpharetta, GA, U.S. Navy 1958-1960; Robert D. Brown, Yuma, AZ, U.S. Navy and James Monroe Brown, Salisbury, NC, US Army WWII 1943-1945.

The first Fisher family reunion was held in 1916. 2016 reunion will be the 100th anniversary of the first reunion.

 

The Rowan Redbuds 

The Rowan Redbuds Garden Club met Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Rowan Public Library.

President Kim Fahs presided. Stephen Brown, Maintenance Manager, City of Salisbury, spoke about the Salisbury Greenway and other city properties.

If you are interested in visiting the Rowan Redbuds Garden Club, call 704-754-8905 for more information.

 

SHS class of 1980 plans 35th reunion

Schedule of events • Friday Oct. 9: Homecoming football game• Saturday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m., picnic at Dan Nicholas Park • Saturday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. at Uncle Buck’s, cost $25 class member/$40 class member and partner. Questions? Call Susie Post-Rust at 919-308-0137 or contact reunion committee  at Salisburyhigh1980@gmail.com

 

Benefit to combat domestic violence

B&P Antiques, 502 N. Long St., is hosting a craft and gift show benefit in memory of Jennifer Wolford, who died because of domestic violence in 2015.

The event will be Saturday, Oct. 10 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (rain date Oct. 11). Crafters, artisans and vendors are invited to participate. Call 704-636-6004 for table prices and reservations. All proceeds will go to support Rowan County families affected by domestic violence.

 

Concord Spider Band Alumni Association

The Concord Spider Band Alumni Association is hosting an Alumni Night and re-dedicating the CHS band room to Ray Landreth.

The ceremony will be held on Friday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. in the a CHS band room before the football game. All CHS band alumni and family and alumni parents are welcome. Alumni are invited to join the band in the stands to play during the game.

To register or with questions email Jennifer Shatley at jshatley@icloud.com

 

Pantheon Acres open barn party

WOODLEAF — Pantheon Acres Arabian Farm, 2225 Needmore Road, will hold its second annual Open Barn Party on Sunday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Included in this year’s event will be horse training demonstrations, riding demonstrations, an equine massage demo, pumpkin painting (while supplies last) and face painting for the kids and the Hunt for the Golden Horse Shoes of Pantheon. New this year will be local vendors and a troupe  of authentic belly dancers.

The highlight of the day is the formal presentation of the Pantheon Arabians at 1:15 p.m.

During the party, the barn is open and all the horses are in their stalls for visitors to see and pet. Farm staff will be on hand to answer questions. There are several foals this year as well.

The event is free to the public, including the food. RSVP is requested for planning purposes by either a call or text to Billie Sullivan at 704-677-0853.

 

Salisbury-Rowan CWU Area II annual meeting celebration

The Area II annual meeting, hosted by Trinity Wesleyan Church and CWU representatives Martha Richardson and Genny Reed, was held on Aug. 22.

Introductions of the three speaker were done by Dorothy Funderburke, Rosalind Mitchell and Genny Reed.

The theme of the event was “Promoting love through confession and forgiveness, reconciliation and non-violence.”

Deidra Helms from Family Crisis spoke on domestic violence; the Rev. Carolyn Bratton from Moore’s Chapel AMEZ Church spoke on confession and forgiveness; the Rev. Barrie Kirby from First Presbyterian Church in Spencer spoke on love in a Biblical story form.

Participants in the program included Area II chair Brenda Venning;  Salisbury Unit members Sarah Byerly and Phyllis Thomside; Jacqueline Sims; Dorothy Gill-Smith; Robbie Diggs; the Rev. Randy Addison; State Church Women United in North Carolina president Brenda Wills; communications chair Dinah Pettigrew; Jean Kennedy; Sandra Davis; Ruth Jackson and Truelove Stowe.

There were nine denominations present and 20 churches represented.

 

Researching the horse’s role in the American Civil War 

ARDEN — Joe Elliott is currently collecting poems, letters, sketches, essays and other writings about the horse’s crucial but much underappreciated role in the American Civil War.

More than a million horses died in the bloody four-year conflict, yet their vast contribution and sacrifice is often overlooked or ignored. Elliot’s plan is to compile the list of titles into a collection to be shared with educators and readers, to bring attention to this piece of history.

He can be reached at jpelliott16@aol.com or 828-775-4523.