I hope everyone has been keeping warm. The weather we have been having seems more like winter than fall.

I think Mother Nature has hit the fast forward button on fall!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The

willingness to accept

responsibility for one's own life is the source from which self-respect springs.”

-- Joan Didion

BIRTHDAYS

Happy belated birthday to Susie Massey, of Barrett, on Oct. 12.

Happy belated birthday to Velma Cardwell, of Bim, who turned 87 on Oct. 13. Love, from your daughter, Sue Prue.

Happy belated birthday to Stacy Gagnon, of Bigson, who celebrated her birthday on Oct. 16. I hope you had a great one, Stacy!

Joe Atha, of Van, will celebrate his birthday on Oct. 21.

Happy birthday to Clara Wilson, of Cooperstown, on Oct. 21.

Elisha Bias, of Gordon, will celebrate her birthday on Oct. 22.

Birthday wishes go out to Jennifer Bias, of Gordon, on Oct 22.

Happy birthday to Delmar Browning, of Julian, on Oct. 23. Love, from Michelle, Sara and D.R.

Happy birthday to Andrea Bailey, of Madison, on Oct. 24.

A special birthday goes out to Daniel “Bubba” Moore, of Wharton, who will celebrate his birthday on Oct. 24. We love you, Bubba, from Garrett, Chandler, Jagger and Maddiex Castle and Cambri Barker.

Happy birthday to Travis Harvey, of Madison, on Oct. 25. Love, from Mom and Dad.

Happy birthday wishes go out to Chasen Moore, of Wharton, on Oct. 27. We love you, Chase, from David, Cara, Garrett, Chandler, Jagger and Maddiex Castle.

Birthday wishes go out to Josh Riffe, of St. Albans, on Oct. 27.

Special birthday wishes go out to Natalie Peters, of Greenwood, who will celebrate her birthday on Oct. 29.

GET WELL

Get well wishes go out to Riley Suprlock, of Madison, who is in the hospital.

Get well wishes to Aaron Dickerson, of Wharton, who is sick.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congrats to Tony Shamblin, of Van, who was crowned Mr. C-Team Bulldog. We are so proud of you and we love you, from your family.

CHURCH NEWS

The Star of Bethlehem Freewill Baptist Church at Twilight and its pastor, Rev. Melvin Messer, invite everyone to attend their services Sunday mornings at 10:30, Sunday evenings at 7 and Wednesday evenings at 7. Children's Church is held each Wednesday. The church will have dinner at noon and afternoon service at 2 on the second Sunday of each month. Ricky Bailey drives the church van throughout the community. Anyone who wants a ride to and from church services should call Bailey at 245-8493.

The Star of Bethlehem Freewill Baptist Church at Twilight will have its quarterly conference on Oct. 23-24. The Friday service will begin at 7 p.m. BeBe Cole will sing. Jimmy Carter will preach. The first of two Saturday services will begin at 9:30 a.m. Hearts of Faith will sing. David May will preach. Lunch will be served at noon. The second service will begin at 2 p.m. Burning Bush will sing. Phillip Meade will preach. Everyone is invited. Call Pastor Melvin Messer at 369-1781 for more information.

The Wharton Missionary Baptist Church will have Pastor Appreciation Day and

Old-Fashioned Day on Oct. 25. Dinner will be served after morning services. Everyone is welcome.

The Van United Methodist Church will have a country fall bazaar on Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tables are available if anyone wants to sell their crafts. The deadline for reserving a table is Nov. 3. Call Tim Spratt at

245-8847 for more information. Come join us for our hot dog

dinner, baked goods, crafts and fellowship.

If you have news you want to share, please send it to me at

vanwhartonnews@yahoo.com or 467 James Branch Road, Wharton, WV 25208. You also can call me at 247-6917. If I am not home, please leave a

message. I need your information by 5 p.m. on Thursdays. This

column needs all of you to keep it full of information.

Until next week, take care.