Honor Guard conducts 800^th service

By JERRY LANKFORD

Record Editor

Garnering full dress military uniforms, members of the VFW Post 1142 Honor Guard drilled among the graves at Mount Lawn Cemetery

Guard member Ward Eller guided his comrades through the motions, M1 Garand rifles ready to fire a military salute.

Last Thursday, during a funeral service for Glenn Dancy, Jr. – a WWII Navy veteran – the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1142 Honor Guard performed it 800^th service.

Dancy was born in Wilkes County, April 30, 1924, to Glenn Dancy, Sr. and Bessie Gambill Dancy.  He was a member of Maple Grove Baptist Church.  He was construction sales manager for Holly Farms until his retirement. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Finley Dancy and survived by three daughters Virginia Reynolds, Susan Blevins and Sandra Cleary, a   son, Glenn Dancy, III, a sister, Betty Elledge a brother, Wayne Dancy; six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.

And the services are all about honoring the veterans and their families.

 “Doing this is a very self-rewarding experience,” Eller said. “It’s something that the families just really appreciate.”

In April of 1997, the VFW Honor Guard performed its first military rites at the funeral of WWII veteran Noah T. Benton of North Wilkesboro.  And, since last May, the group has performed 100 services for local veterans.

Honor guard members are all volunteers. The rites include 21 gun salutes, the playing of Taps and the presentation of the coffin flag to a family member.

VFW Post 1142 Honor Guard members include Commander Robert Rogers, Chaplain Mace Johnson, Jim Bare, Billy Brown, Don Coleman, Rex Eldreth, Rex Eller, Ward Eller, Curtis Foster, Bill Joines, Vilas Payne, Bill Thomas, Alex Vanderheide, Henry Key, Chester Caudill

Rogers, 84, a WWII veteran who served in the U.S. Army Engineers, calls it a “privilege” to be part of the services.

“I’m always really pleased to do this for the family and for the memory of the veterans,” he said.

 

 

Rodeo set for Friday and Saturday

Wilkes Smart Start will present the annual Mid-Atlantic Sanctioned Championship Pro Rodeo on Friday and Saturday, July 9 and July 10.

The event will feature an array of rodeo competitions including bronco riding, calf roping, bull riding and more. It will be held at the Rotary Fair Grounds at Worth Tomlinson Park next to West Park on the 421 Bypass in North Wilkesboro.

The rodeo is an outreach program for Wilkes Smart Start.

The rodeo will begin each evening at 8 p.m., with the gates opening at 6 p.m. Concessions will be available. Sheep riding will be available for children.

Admission for adults is $12 and $6 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under will be admitted free.

 

Resonator players to converge

The sixth annual Gathering of Resonateurs will be from Wednesday, July 7 through Saturday, July 10 at the Holiday Inn Express in Wilkesboro.

And, as always, Grammy winning resonator player Tut Taylor will be one of the featured artists of the event.

This year, Bobby Wolfe will be honored. Wolfe is a resophonic guitar pioneer and innovator.  One of the early builders, he has made  outstanding resophonic guitars for many years and is considered one of the true experts on this type of guitar. His Wolfe ported design is unique and highly regarded among players.  In addition to building, he has written a number of articles on  the subject in Bluegrass Unlimited magazine and published a book of interviews with four of the leading players of this instrument today: Jerry Douglas, Tut Taylor, Mike Auldridge, and Josh Graves.

Many of those attending arrive on Wednesday and jam all day with friends

Thursday will feature more jamming, bingo and a concert that evening with Johnny Bellar and Lou Wamp.

On Friday morning there will be a two-hour workshop with Lou Wamp. Then, on Friday afternoon everyone will get together for the group picture. The evening will feature a concert for the community and make a presentation to Bobby Wolfe, builder of Wolfe guitars.

Saturday will include jamming, bingo, and a group dinner in the evening with door prizes and special awards.

The gathering is open to musicians of all levels.

For more information visit the website at http://www.resonateur.com

 

 

Beatles tribute band to headline OliverFest

Kathy Bauguss loved the Beatles.

Bauguss, a beloved Wilkes resident and victim of muscular dystrophy, worked tirelessly to promote knowledge about the ailment which afflicted her. She died in December 1977.  She was the daughter of Clay, now deceased, and Mae Bauguss of North Wilkesboro. Many remember her efforts and kindness. Kathy's sister is Linda Bauguss Edmiston who is married to Johnny Edmiston of the Halls-Mills Community near McGrady. Linda Hall Lankford, wife of Gerald Lankford, is Kathy’s first cousin.

And, when Britishmania takes the stage at this year’s OliverFest, the performance will be dedicated to Bauguss’ memory.

The second annual OliverFest – which is a tribute to Wilkes musician William Oliver Swofford, who burst onto the music world of the late 60s with his song Good Morning Star Shine - will be held in Downtown North Wilkesboro on Saturday, July 17. The event will start at 5 p.m. and run until midnight. Several local bands will perform before the headliner group takes the stage. Food and beverages will be available.

To festival organizer Ted Brown, the connection between Bauguss and the festival seems natural, particularly because so many residents who knew her were friends with Swofford.

About Bauguss, Brown said, “She had the most positive attitude. She never complained. She was always concerned about everyone she knew. She was the best person I’ve ever known. If ever there was an angel on earth, it was her.”

Bauguss helped with benefits and fundraiser connected with the ailment in the late 70s.

But, one of the things Brown remembers best about the young woman was her love for music.

“She was the biggest Beatle fan in the world,” he said.

 And, Brown hopes the festival helps perpetuate Bauguss’ memory.

 “For those who didn’t know her, it’s time they know who she was and what she gave in her short life,” Brown said.

OliverFest is a free downtown event.  The festival begins at 5 p.m. and runs until midnight. Local musical acts Sonny Remington and the Strangers, Four Wheel Drive and Crusher Run will perform songs from the late 60s and early 70s.

The namesake of OliverFest is William Oliver Swofford, who was an American pop singer in the 1960’s and 1970’s, and was known on stage as Oliver.  Swofford was a North Wilkesboro native who achieved fame for his songs, Good Morning Starshine, (from the pop/rock musical Hair), and his ballad Jean, which was the theme song from the Oscar winning film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

OliverFest is a celebration commemorating the 41st anniversary of William Oliver Swofford's achievements, featuring many great live performances.  OliverFest coincides with the 41st Anniversary of the Summer of ’69 and also the 41^st anniversary of Oliver’s Top 40 Hits “Good Morning Starshine” and “Jean.”

 

 

For award winning sports coverage subscribe to The Record

 

 

Community Happenings

The Humane Society of Wilkes offers registration for the low cost spay/neuter clinic every Tuesday night, from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Wilkes County Public Library.  Registered pets are transported to the clinic on the second Monday of each month. For more information please call 336-984-0227.

The Wilkes Senior Citizens Council, Inc has fans to give to persons 60 years and older.  The eligibility requirements are as follows: Must be 60 years or older, and must be a resident of Wilkes County and have a home situation where a threat to the person’s health and well-being exists.

 

The Humane Society of Wilkes will hold a Pet Adoption Fair at Wilkes Christian Church on Second St. Hill, N. Wilkesboro (across from Wendy's), on Saturday, July 10, from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM.  HSOW foster dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens will be available for adoption.  Adoption fees include vet exam, vaccines, worming, rabies shot and spay or neuter.  Pet related items will be for sale.  For more information visit www.humanesocietyofwilkes.org or call 336-984-0227.

 

 

On Saturday July 10th, 2010 there will be an "Open House" at the Black Cat Station Railroad Club, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 p.m. and everyone is invited to attend. We are a large "HO" Scale Model railroad, operating many trains at the same time. As we are a non-profit organization, there is no admission charge, and lots of good times to be had by all.  The Club is located at: 800 Elizabeth Street, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 (The Old Wilkes Art Gallery) You can find us on the net at www.blackcatstation.com.

 

Mountain Valley Valley Baptist Church will hold a chiken-que at Memorial Park on Saturday, July 9. Serving begins at 10 a.m. Proceeds will benefit the church.