I hope everyone has enjoyed the lovely weather. I hope the cold, rainy days are behind us.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Grandfathers are just antique little boys.

-- Author Unknown
BIRTHDAYS

Katie Jo Atha, of Van, will celebrate her birthday on April 29. 
Birthday wishes go out to Cassie Bias, of Bigson, on April 29. 
Happy birthday to Brett Spratt, of Van, on April 29.

Birthday wishes go out to Julie (Jarrell) May, of Florida, on May 1. I hope you have a great one, Julie.

Donna Workman, of Gordon, will celebrate her birthday on May 1.
Happy birthday to Steven Gibson, of Wharton, on May 3.
Timmy Dunlap, of Brown’s Branch, will celebrate his birthday on May 4.
Happy birthday to Justin Harper, of Van, on May 4.
Eric Parks, of Madison, will celebrate his birthday on May 5.
A special happy birthday wish goes out to Ricky Bailey, of Twilight, on May 5, with love from David, Cara, Garrett, Chandler, Jagger and Maddiex Castle.

ANNIVERSARIES

Mike and Kathy Workman, of Twilight, will celebrate their anniversary on April 30.

GET WELL

Get well wishes go out to Joe Hamrick, of Webster Springs, formerly of Bald Knob, who had to have emergency surgery. He is in Summersville Memorial Hospital. He needs all of your thoughts and prayers. We love you so much, from Randall and Pam White; David, Cara, Garrett, Chandler, Jagger and Maddiex Castle; and Chad, Brianne and Cambri Barker.

Get well wishes go out to Chandler Castle, who is having stomach problems.

The Van Church of God sends out special get well wishes and prayers go out to Al and Hazel Heare, of Van; Maggie Linville, of Van; Iris Lusk, of Van; and Charlie White, of Gordon.

SYMPATHY

Deepest sympathy wishes go out to the family of Betty Ann Green, 72, of Twilight, who passed away April 20 at home. Love and prayers, from Daniel and Marilyn Green and their family.

Condolences go out to the family of Norman Dean “Dino” Lafferty, 43, of Peytona, who passed away April 19.

Deepest sympathy to the family of Patricia Mae Deal (née Bias), 61, of Robinson, who passed away April 18 at her home.

I’m keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.

SCHOOL NEWS

Van Elementary School is supporting the Relay for Life Walk for Boone
County on May 15. The school is raising money (dimes) to help
with the cancer research and honor those who have survived cancer. The class with the most donations will receive an extra 30 minutes of recess time, which is very important to children.

Congratulations to Van Elementary School’s March Students and Citizens of the Month: Kindergarten -- Selena Elswick and Katelynn Cook; First Grade -- Blake Martin and Savannah Cook; Second Grade -- Gavin Weaver and Haleigh Cook; Third Grade -- Abby Harvey and Kory Williams; Fourth Grade -- Job Osborne and Alex Gibson; Fifth Grade -- Alyssa Harris and Cynthia Williams; and Resource Room -- J.T. White.

Congratulations to the Van Elementary School students who found the lucky eggs or the most eggs: Emily Workman, Garret Haynes, Matthew Persinger, Blake Martin, Paige Wilson, Danielle Adkins, Brody Woodrum, Daniel Gibson, Sarah Burns, Jared Cook, Nick Hager and Wyatt Harvey.

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 now drives the church van throughout the community. Anyone who wants a ride to and from church services should call Bailey at 245-8493.

Cazy Freewill Baptist Church is in the middle of a revival, which began Monday and will end Friday. Scheduled to appear are Jerry Vance today, Johnny Helvey on Thursday and "A Glimpse of Glory" on Friday. There will be special singing nightly.

The Van Church of God and its new pastor and his wife, Rev. Billy and Susie Privett, invite everyone to attend their services Sunday mornings at 10, Sunday evenings at 6 and Wednesday evenings at 6. Children's Church is held each Wednesday.

The Van Church of God will have a Mother’s Day banquet on May 4 at 5 p.m. All ladies are invited to attend.

The Van Church of God will have a cookout for the youth and children at Van Community Park on May 13 at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Pam Bowling is a new Avon representative in our area. If you want to place an order, call her at 304-247-6434.

Chapter No. WV571 of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets on Tuesdays with the weigh-in at 5:30 p.m. and the meeting at 6 p.m. at the Wharton Barrett Community Center. The chapter has 37 members and continues to grow. The members encourage anyone who is having a problem losing weight to join us weekly for support. The chapter is open to men and women and children ages 7 and older. Call leader Marilyn Green at 304-247-6376 for more information.

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If you have any information you want to see in this column, please send it to me at vanwhartonnews@yahoo.com or 467 James Branch Road, Wharton, WV 25208. You also can call me at (304) 247-6917. If I am not home, please leave me 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.